Thelymitra fragrans

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Fragrant sun orchid
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species:
T. fragrans
Binomial name
Thelymitra fragrans

Thelymitra fragrans, commonly called the fragrant sun orchid, [2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single glossy, limp leaf and up to eleven strongly scented blue flowers with a deeply notched V-shape on the anther above the column.

Contents

Description

Thelymitra fragrans is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single limp, glossy, bright green, linear to lance-shaped leaf 80–270 mm (3–10 in) long and 10–22 mm (0.4–0.9 in) wide. Between two and eleven pale blue, pink, mauve or rarely white flowers 25–30 mm (0.98–1.2 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 150–350 mm (6–10 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The column is white, 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is yellowish brown to deep red, tube-shaped and curved with a deep V-shaped notch. The side lobes have tufts of white hairs in an almost spherical shape. The flowers are insect-pollinated, strongly scented and open in hot weather. Flowering occurs from August to October. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra fragrans was first formally described in 1988 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a specimen collected in the Lamington National Park and the description was published in Austrobaileya . [5] [6] The specific epithet (fragrans) is a Latin word meaning "smelling agreeably", [7] referring to "the strong floral fragrance". [6]

Distribution and habitat

The fragrant sun orchid grows in rocky places in open forest, often near streams and is often found growing in clumps of Dendrobium kingianum . It occurs mainly between the Blackall Range in Queensland and Werrikimbe National Park in New South Wales but also in the Carnarvon Range further north in Queensland and sometimes as far south as Sydney. [2] [4] [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Thelymitra nuda</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra nuda, commonly known as the plain sun orchid is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single fleshy, channelled leaf and up to twelve dark blue to purplish, sometimes white or pinkish flowers with white tufts on top of the anther. It grows in a range of habitats and sometimes forms large colonies.

<i>Thelymitra aristata</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra aristata, commonly called the great sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single large, thick leaf and bracts and up to forty crowded blue or purplish flowers with darker veins.

<i>Thelymitra gregaria</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra gregaria, commonly called the clumping sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Victoria. It has a single fleshy, channelled leaf and up to six strongly scented, dark blue to purple flowers and often grows in clumps.

Thelymitra imbricata, commonly called the broad sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Tasmania. It has a single erect, channelled leaf and up to fifteen or more pale to dark or purplish blue, relatively large flowers.

<i>Thelymitra malvina</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra malvina, commonly called the mauve-tufted sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is native to eastern Australia and New Zealand. It has a single large, fleshy leaf and up to twenty five blue to mauve flowers with pink or mauve tufts on top of the anther.

<i>Thelymitra megacalyptra</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra megacalyptra, commonly called the plains sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy leaf and up to fifteen blue to purplish, sometimes lilac, pink or white flowers with white tufts on top of the anther. It is known as Thelymitra megcalyptra by some authorities.

Thelymitra queenslandica, commonly called the northern sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Queensland. It has a single long, grass-like leaf and up to fifteen dark blue to purplish, sometimes white or pinkish flowers with white or pink tufts on top of the anther. It is readily distinguished by its northerly distribution and early flowering period.

Thelymitra angustifolia, commonly known as the long-leaved sun orchid is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single erect, thin, channelled leaf and up to ten purplish blue flowers with white tufts on top of the anther. The flowers are self-pollinating.

<i>Thelymitra holmesii</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra holmesii, commonly called the blue star sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single long, narrow, fleshy leaf and up to nine purplish blue to mauve flowers with a deeply notched lobe on top of the anther.

Thelymitra reflexa, commonly called the reflexed sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Victoria. It has a single erect, fleshy, channelled leaf and up to six bluish purple flowers. The sepals and petals are strongly turned back towards the ovary but only on hot days when the flowers open.

Thelymitra vulgaris, commonly called the slender sun orchid or common sun orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, dark green leaf and up to nine relatively small, blue to purplish or white flowers.

Thelymitra lucida, commonly called the glistening sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south eastern Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy leaf and up to seven dark blue flowers with the sepals a lighter blue than the petals.

Thelymitra silena, commonly called the madonna sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Tasmania. It has a single thick, fleshy, channelled leaf and up to fifteen pale blue flowers with an almost spherical yellow lobe on top of the anther.

<i>Thelymitra improcera</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra improcera, commonly called the coastal sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy leaf and up to eight relatively small pale to bright blue flowers on a short flowering stem. The lobe on top of the anther is unusually short and lobed.

<i>Thelymitra longiloba</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra longiloba, commonly called the lobed sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy, channelled leaf and up to six relatively small blue flowers with side lobes above the anther. Although widespread, it only occurs in disjunct populations and is classed as "endangered".

<i>Thelymitra sargentii</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra sargentii, commonly called the freckled sun orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single thick, leathery leaf and up to twenty five strongly scented, lemon yellow flowers with brown blotches. It grows in arid areas but where it receives runoff during rainfall.

Thelymitra atronitida, commonly called the black-hooded orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single erect, leathery, leaf and up to eight moderately dark blue, self-pollinating flowers that only open on hot days.

Thelymitra × truncata, commonly called the truncate sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single tapering, more or less flat leaf with a reddish base and up to six blue, pink or white flowers with a tube-shaped lobe on top of the anther. It is a natural hybrid between a range of species, including T. pauciflora and T. ixioides.

<i>Thelymitra glaucophylla</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra glaucophylla is a species of orchid that is endemic to South Australia. It has a single erect, channelled, pale green leaf and up to fifteen pale blue, mauve or white flowers with an inflated, greyish lobe on top of the anther.

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.

References

  1. "Thelymitra fragrans". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 241. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2013). "An overview of the Thelymitra nuda (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia including the description of six new species" (PDF). Muelleria. 31: 13–14. Retrieved 11 May 2018.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  4. 1 2 Bernhardt, Peter. "Thelymitra fragrans". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 11 May 2018.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. "Thelymitra fragrans". APNI. Retrieved 11 May 2018.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (1988). "New orchid taxa from south-eastern Queensland". Austrobaileya. 2 (5): 550–552.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 352.