DONKEY ORCHID

any of about 38 species of terrestrial plants, family Orchidaceae, that constitute the genus Diuris. One species is found in Java; the others are native to Australia. A donkey orchid has grasslike leaves. The two upper petals on each flower resemble the ears of a donkey, and the greenish lateral sepals are long and drooping. The common donkey orchid (Diuris longifolia) bears from three to five flowers about 4 cm (1.5 inches) long. Other well-known species are cat's face (D. filifolia) and nanny-goat orchid (D. laevis).