Diuris protena
Encyclopedia
Diuris protena, commonly known as the Early Cowslip Orchid, Northern Golden Moth Orchid or Northern Golden Moths, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the state of Victoria
in south-eastern Australia
. It was discovered in 2006 in the Terrick Terrick National Park
.
, Terrick Terrick and Elmore
. It is found in remnants of Victoria’s native grassland
and grassy woodland
habitats. The largest population, of some 400 plants, was discovered at Bush Heritage Australia
’s Nardoo Hills Reserves
, 60 km south-west of Terrick Terrick, in Yellow Box
woodland on the slopes of Mount Kerang. A likely pollinator
of the orchid is a native bee
that also pollinates bulbine lilies
, similar in colour and size to the orchid, that are found in the same habitat.
. In 2007 the population was estimated to comprise several hundred plants. The species is listed as endangered under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in south-eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was discovered in 2006 in the Terrick Terrick National Park
Terrick Terrick National Park
Terrick Terrick National Park is a national park in Victoria, Australia, northwest of Melbourne, north of the town of Mitiamo and north of the City of Bendigo. It is an important remnant of Box-Ironbark forests and northern grass plains and is close to Kow Swamp, the site of a major...
.
Distribution and habitat
The orchid is known from sites in northern and north-western Victoria between DonaldDonald, Victoria
Donald is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Richardson River, at the junction of Sunraysia Highway and Borung Highway, in the Shire of Buloke. The town is named after William Donald, a Scottish pastoralist who was the first settler in the area in 1844...
, Terrick Terrick and Elmore
Elmore, Victoria
Elmore is a small town in Victoria north-east of Bendigo on the Campaspe River. Elmore is close to the Whipstick State Park.At the 2006 census, Elmore had a population of 694.-History:...
. It is found in remnants of Victoria’s native grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
and grassy woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
habitats. The largest population, of some 400 plants, was discovered at Bush Heritage Australia
Bush Heritage Australia
Bush Heritage Australia is a non-profit organisation based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia that operates throughout Australia. It was previously known as the Australian Bush Heritage Fund, which is still its legal name. It purchases land, assessed as being of outstanding conservation value, from...
’s Nardoo Hills Reserves
Nardoo Hills Reserves
The Nardoo Hills Reserves comprise two adjoining parcels of land, with a combined area of 5.9 km2, as a nature reserve in north-central Victoria, Australia. They are located 12 km north of Wedderburn, 100 km north-west of Bendigo and 240 km north-west of Melbourne...
, 60 km south-west of Terrick Terrick, in Yellow Box
Eucalyptus melliodora
Eucalyptus melliodora, commonly known as Yellow Box, is a medium sized to occasionally tall eucalypt. The bark is variable ranging from smooth with an irregular, short stocking, to covering most of the trunk, fibrous, dense or loosely held, grey, yellow or red-brown, occasionally very coarse,...
woodland on the slopes of Mount Kerang. A likely pollinator
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
of the orchid is a native bee
Australian native bees
Australia has over 1,500 species of native bee. Bees can be distinguished from flies in that bees have four wings, where flies have only two. Bees collect pollen, from flowers, to feed their young...
that also pollinates bulbine lilies
Bulbine
Bulbine is a genus of plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae, named for the bulb-shaped tuber shown by many of the species...
, similar in colour and size to the orchid, that are found in the same habitat.
Conservation
Almost all of the orchid’s habitat has been cleared for farming, with remaining sites threatened by weed infestationInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
. In 2007 the population was estimated to comprise several hundred plants. The species is listed as endangered under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.