Hornet Orchid is also known as Tiger Orchid, Hornet orchid, Yellow Tiger Orchid and Hornet Orchid. It prefers moist soil in semi-shaded sites on slopes of foothills in open sclerophyll forest and health in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, and New South Wales.
Flowers are bright yellow having deep red to brown markings on the lower petal. Foliage is long and thin grass-like. Tall flower spikes reach 50 to 60 cm. Petals are erect, two stalked, yellow with brownish stalks, and about 30 mm long. The plant thrives in well-drained and moisture-retentive soil. It could be found in lower foothill, open woodland areas in natural habitats.
Plant description
Diuris sulphurea is a perennial, terrestrial and geophytic herb. Roots are small, ovoid, or cylindrical. Leaves are 15-25 cm long and 3-4 mm wide, basal, linear, grass-like, and alternate and whorled leaves. The scape is 30 to 60 cm high. Flowers are bright yellow, 3-4 cm across, and stalked. Sepal is erect, ovate, 8–20 mm long, and 7–15 mm wide. The labellum is 7-15 mm long, lateral lobes are broad cuneate, 3-6 mm long and 2.5-4.5 mm wide; callus is with 3-5 mm long single ridge. The capsule is thin-walled, dehiscent, and glabrous erect that contains numerous light-dark colored and winged seeds.
Culinary uses
Tubers are edible.
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