Thelymitra jonesii

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Skyblue sun orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
(unranked):
Order:
Family:
Subfamily:
Tribe:
Diurideae
Subtribe:
Thelymitrinae
Genus:
Species:
T. jonesii
Binomial name
Thelymitra jonesii

Thelymitra jonesii, commonly called the skyblue sun orchid, [2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to Tasmania. It has a single erect, fleshy, linear, dark green leaf and up to six relatively small light blue to azure blue flowers with darker veins. It is a rare orchid known from only four scattered locations in moist coastal heath.

Contents

Description

Thelymitra jonesii is a glaucous, tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, fleshy, channelled, grass-like linear leaf 60–210 mm (2–8 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with a purplish base. Up to six light blue to azure blue flowers with darker veins, 13–27 mm (0.5–1 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 80–400 mm (3–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 6–13 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long and 2–8 mm (0.08–0.3 in) wide. The column is blue to purplish, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 1.5–2.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide with flanges on the side. The lobe on the top of the anther is blackish with a yellow fleshy, toothed tip and the side lobes have mop-like tufts of white or purplish hairs. The flowers are insect pollinated and open on warm days. Flowering occurs from September to December and flowering is more prolific after fire the previous summer. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra jonesii was first formally described in 2001 by Jeff Jeanes from a specimen collected between Eaglehawk Neck and Taranna and the description was published in Muelleria . [5] The specific epithet (jonesii) honours the botanist and author David Jones. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The skyblue sun orchid grows in coastal heath and forest. It is only known from the Tasman Peninsula, Rocky Cape, Cape Barren Island and near Southport and only from the first of these in recent years. [2] [3] [4]

Conservation

The total number of mature individuals of T. jonesii was estimated in 2002 to be fewer than sixty. The species is listed as "critically endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and as "endangered" under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 . [4]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Thelymitra malvina</i>

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<i>Thelymitra megacalyptra</i>

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 basaltica, commonly called the grassland sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Victoria. It has a single fleshy, channelled, dark green leaf and up to eight small pale blue, self-pollinating flowers which open only slowly on warm to hot days.

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<i>Thelymitra brevifolia</i>

Thelymitra brevifolia, commonly called the peppertop sun orchid or short-leaf sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single erect, relatively short and broad, dark green leaf and up to twenty purplish or purplish blue flowers. It is a common and widespread self-pollinating species occurring in a wide range of habitats.

Thelymitra exigua, commonly called the short sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single fleshy, channelled, dark green leaf and up to eight relatively small pale blue flowers with white toothbrush-like tufts on top of the anther.

Thelymitra cyanapicata, commonly called the dark-tipped sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to South Australia. It has a single fleshy, linear, channelled leaf and up to three small blue or pale purplish to maroon flowers with a dark purplish blue top of the anther.

<i>Thelymitra holmesii</i>

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.

<i>Thelymitra peniculata</i>

Thelymitra peniculata, commonly called the trim sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to southern eastern Australia. It has a single long, erect, fleshy, channelled leaf and up to eighteen deep blue to purple self-pollinating flowers.

Thelymitra viridis, commonly called the green sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Tasmania. It has a single erect, fleshy, channelled leaf and up to seven small self-pollinating pale blue to pale purplish flowers. The rest of the plant is a pale green colour.

Thelymitra inflata, commonly called the inflated sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south eastern Australia. It has a single long, erect, linear leaf and up to six dark blue to purplish flowers with a very inflated lobe on top of the anther.

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.

<i>Thelymitra mucida</i>

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Thelymitra adorata, commonly called the Wyong sun orchid or praying sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to a very small area of New South Wales. It has a single relatively large, erect, fleshy, channelled leaf and up to thirteen deep blue, self-pollinating flowers.

Thelymitra kangaloonica, commonly called the Kangaloon sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to a very small area of New South Wales. It has a single erect, relatively narrow, fleshy leaf and up to forty deep blue flowers with darker veins.

<i>Thelymitra azurea</i>

Thelymitra azurea, commonly called the azure sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single fleshy, grass-like leaf and up to ten dark azure blue flowers with darker veins. The lobe on top of the anther has a toothed or warty tip.

Thelymitra occidentalis, commonly called the western azure sun orchid or rimmed orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy, channelled, dark green leaf and up to fifteen blue flowers with darker blue veins and sometimes flushed with pink. The lobe on top of the anther has a wavy, yellow crest.

Thelymitra incurva, commonly called the coastal striped sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single erect, dark green grass-like leaf and up to seven relatively large, pale blue flowers lacking the darker veins of some other thelymitras, especially the otherwise similar striped sun orchid. It grows in coastal areas of far south-eastern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria.

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.

References

  1. "Thelymitra jonesii". 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. 244. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2000). "Resolution of the Thelymitra canaliculata R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in southern Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 15: 81–83. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Threatened species listing statement - Thelymitra jonesii" (PDF). Government of Tasmania Department of Primary Industries, Parks Water and Environment. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  5. "Thelymitra jonesii". APNI. Retrieved 28 May 2018.