Thelymitra kangaloonica

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Kangaloon 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. kangaloonica
Binomial name
Thelymitra kangaloonica

Thelymitra kangaloonica, commonly known as Kangaloon sun orchid, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Thelymitra kangaloonica is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, fleshy, channelled, linear leaf 150–350 mm (6–10 in) long and 5–25 mm (0.2–1 in) wide with a purplish base. Up to forty deep blue flowers with darker veins, 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 200–550 mm (8–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 8–18 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long, 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and brownish on their reverse side. The column is white or pale blue, 5–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in) long and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is yellow with a purple band, more or less flat and strap-like. The side lobes curve towards each other and have a short, toothbrush-like tuft of white hairs. Flowering occurs in late October and November. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra kangaloonica was first formally described in 2011 by Jeff Jeanes and the description was published in Muelleria from a specimen collected near Robertson. [5] The specific epithet (kangaloonica) is a reference to the township of Kangaloon near which the type specimen was found. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The Kangaloon sun orchid grows with sedges and rushes in swampy places. It only occurs in three sites near Robertson and Kangaloon. [2] [3] [4] [6]

Conservation

Thelymitra kangaloonica only occurs in three sites and is threatened by inappropriate fire regimes, grazing and drying out of the swamps where it grows. It is listed as "critically endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and under the New South Wales Government NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act. [4] [6]

Research is being carried out to determine appropriate techniques for protecting the species by population monitoring and hand pollination of flowers. [7]

Related Research Articles

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

Thelymitra cyanea, commonly known as the veined sun orchid in Australia and as the swamp sun orchid or striped sun orchid in New Zealand, is a species of orchid which is native to New Zealand and south-eastern Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy, channelled leaf and up to five bright blue flowers with darker blue veins. It is usually found growing in swamps, sphagnum bogs, and subalpine herbfields, often in clonal colonies.

<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 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 granitora</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra granitora, commonly called the coastal granite sun orchid or coastal sun orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single short, curved and channelled dark green leaf and up to eight relatively large pale blue or white, self-pollinating flowers with white mop-like tufts on the top of the anther.

<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.

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

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 planicola, commonly called the glaucous sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to southern eastern Australia. It has a single erect, leathery, channelled, dark green leaf and up to twelve blue flowers with darker veins. The plant has a bluish green hue and the flowers are self-pollinating, only opening widely on hot days.

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> Species of orchid

Thelymitra mucida, commonly called the plum sun orchid or plum orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to southern Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy, linear leaf and up to six blue, purplish or plum coloured flowers with a thick, sticky secretion on the anther lobe.

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

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.

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

Thelymitra epipactoides, commonly called the metallic sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has a single relatively large, leathery leaf and up to twenty large flowers that range in colour from pink to reddish but have a distinctive arrangement of lobes above the anther.

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

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.

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

Thelymitra canaliculata, commonly called the flushed sun orchid or blue sun orchid is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy leaf and up to twenty eight blue flowers with darker veins and sometimes flushed with pink. The lobe on top of the anther is blackish with a yellow crest.

Thelymitra jonesii, commonly called the skyblue sun orchid, 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.

Thelymitra latiloba, commonly called the wandoo sun orchid or wandoo shirt orchid, 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 twelve blue flowers with darker blue veins and sometimes flushed with mauve. The lobe on top of the anther is wavy.

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 alpicola, commonly called the alpine striped sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single erect, dark green grass-like leaf and up to six relatively large, deep purplish blue flowers with darker streaks. It grows in subalpine to montane habitats.

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 kangaloonica". 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. pp. 239–240. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2011). "Resolution of the Thelymitra aristata (Orchidaceae) complex of south-eastern Australia". Muelleria. 29 (2): 123–125. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Approved Conservation Advice for Thelymitra sp. Kangaloon (D.L.Jones 18108) (Kangaloon Sun-orchid)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  5. "Thelymitra kangaloonica". APNI. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Kangaloon Sun Orchid - profile". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  7. Wilmott, Lachlan; Schlunke, James; Renner, Matt; Wait, Jessica; Sommerville, Karen D. (2019). "Hand-pollination inceases seed set in the critically endangered orchid Thelymitra kangaloonica". Cunninghamia. 19: 91–95. Retrieved 1 January 2023.