Diuris pedunculata

Diuris pedunculata is a tuberous, perennial herb with two erect, linear to thread-like leaves 40–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide. One or two pale yellow flowers with an orange labellum, 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 60–180 mm (2–7 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is narrow egg-shaped, angled upwards, 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. The lateral sepals are lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and angled downwards. The petals are narrow elliptic, 9–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, 4–5.5 mm (0.16–0.22 in) wide, spread apart from each other and droop downwards on a dark coloured stalk 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. The labellum is 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped, 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and the side lobes are triangular, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. There are between two irregular ridge-like calli 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long at the base of the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in August and September.

The small snake orchid was originally found in scattered populations between Tenterfield and the Hawkesbury River but is now only known mostly from areas around Armidale, Uralla, Guyra and Ebor. It grows in moist, grassy places and in open forest. Similar orchids occurring in south-east New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania have been reinterpreted as Diuris subalpina.

This orchid appears use sexual deception, attracting mostly males of the native bee species, Halictus lanuginosus for pollination, even though the flowers produce nectar and emit a strong scent that attract other insects.