Donkey Orchid

Description:

This beautiful orchid had bright yellow flowers with the central sepal being broad and hoodlike. The two other sepals hung down on either side like long tails. The lateral paler petals stuck out like a donkey's ears while the central one formed the labellum below the hood-like central sepal. Flowers were arranged on short stalks. The plants would have been about a foot tall.

Habitat:

Spotted in a dry eucalyptus forest.

Notes:

Leopard (D.pardina) x Tiger Orchid ( D.sulphurea) hybrid with a common name of "Donkey Orchid" !
Both Leopard and Tiger orchids have brown blotches. This hybrid is a plain yellow. The hybridization appears to happen naturally in the wild. Family: Orchidaceae