Thelymitra odora
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| Thelymitra odora | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Thelymitra |
| Species: | T. odora |
| Binomial name | |
| Thelymitra odora | |
Thelymitra odora is a rare species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to a small area of South Australia. It has a single erect, channelled, linear leaf and up to four deep blue flowers. It is similar to T. pauciflora but is distinguished from that species by its slaty grey flower buds and a different lobe on top of the anther.
Thelymitra odora is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, non-fleshy, channelled, linear leaf 80–120 mm (3–5 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide with a purplish base. Up to four deep blue flowers 12–14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 150–300 mm (6–10 in) tall. The flower buds are a slaty grey colour. The sepals and petals are 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The column is white or pale blue, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is tube-shaped and dark coloured with a yellow, slightly notched tip. The side lobes curve sharply upwards and have mop-like tufts of white hairs on their ends. The flowers open on warm, humid days. Flowering occurs between late October and early-November.[2]