Thelymitra paludosa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Plain sun orchid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In Gull Rock National Park | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Thelymitra |
| Species: | T. paludosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Thelymitra paludosa | |
Thelymitra paludosa, commonly known as plain sun orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single erect, channelled, dark green leaf and up to ten or more blue to violet flowers. It grows in higher rainfall areas near the south coast.
Thelymitra paludosa is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, leathery, channelled, dark green linear to lance-shaped leaf 140–500 mm (6–20 in) long, 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) wide with a purplish base. Between two and ten or more blue to violet, sometimes pink or white flowers 18–45 mm (0.7–2 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 200–900 mm (8–40 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 8–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) long and 4–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The column is pale blue to pinkish 6–8.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is dark brown to almost black with a yellow, slightly notched tip. The side lobes have toothbrush-like tufts of white hairs near their ends. Flowering occurs from mid-October to December.[2][3][4]