Diuris sulphurea, commonly called the tiger orchid or hornet orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to three leaves, and a flowering stem with up to seven bright yellow flowers with dark brown markings. Description Diuris sulphurea is a tuberous, perennial herb with up to three linear to lance-shaped leaves long and wide. Up to seven flowers wide are borne on a flowering stem tall. The flowers are bright yellow with a few prominent dark brown markings. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, erect or leaning forward, long and wide. The lateral sepals are green or green and brown, linear, long, wide, turned downwards and usually parallel to each other. The petals are erect or turned backwards with an egg-shaped blade long and wide on a dark brown stalk long. The labellum is long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is spade-shaped, long, wide and the side lobes are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide. There is a ridge-shaped callus in the mid-line of the base of the labellum and extending about half way along. Flowering occurs from August to December. Taxonomy and naming Diuris sulphurea was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. Distribution and habitat The tiger orchid occurs in all states of Australia except Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It grows in forest, woodland, heath, grassland and coastal scrub. In Victoria it often occurs with Diuris pardina and sometimes forms hybrids with that species. References Orchids of the Australian Capital Territory Orchids of New South Wales Orchids of Queensland Orchids of South Australia Orchids of Tasmania Orchids of Victoria (Australia) Endemic orchids of Australia sulphurea Plants described in 1810