Thelymitra xanthotricha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Yellow tufted sun orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Thelymitra |
| Species: | T. xanthotricha |
| Binomial name | |
| Thelymitra xanthotricha | |
Thelymitra xanthotricha, commonly called the yellow tufted sun orchid[2] or yellow tufted slender sun orchid,[3] is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy, channelled, dark green leaf and up to six relatively large dark blue to purplish flowers.
Thelymitra xanthotricha is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, fleshy, channelled, dark green, linear to lance-shaped leaf 100–300 mm (4–10 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide with a purplish base. Up to six dark blue to purplish flowers, 16–34 mm (0.6–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 300–500 mm (10–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 8–17 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and 3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. The column is pale blue, 5–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is dark brown with a yellow tip, tube-shaped and inflated with a notched end. The side lobes curve gently upwards and have toothbrush-like tufts of creamy yellow hairs. The flowers are self-pollinating and open only slowly, even on hot days. Flowering occurs in September and October.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming
Thelymitra xanthotricha was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes and the description was published in Muelleria.[6] The specific epithet (xanthotricha) means "yellow hair".[5][7]
