Thelymitra macrophylla

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Large-leafed sun orchid
Thelymitra macrophylla flower.jpg
Thelymitra macrophylla near Boyanup
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. macrophylla
Binomial name
Thelymitra macrophylla

Thelymitra macrophylla, commonly called the large-leafed sun orchid [1] or scented sun orchid, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single thick, broad, leathery leaf and up to twenty five relatively large dark blue to purplish flowers with white, toothbrush-like tufts.

Contents

Collection data of T. macrophylla from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium Thelymitra macrophylla map.jpg
Collection data of T. macrophylla from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Description

Thelymitra macrophylla is a tuberous herbaceous perennial with a single thick, leathery, strap-like leaf 150–500 mm (6–20 in) long and 5–25 mm (0.2–1 in) wide. Between two and twenty-five dark blue to purplish flowers, 25–50 mm (1–2 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 300–900 mm (10–40 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. The column is white to pale blue or pinkish, 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–5.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is 3.5–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and dark brown with a yellow tip. The side lobes have toothbrush-like tufts of white hairs. The flowers are strongly scented, insect pollinated and open in sunny weather. Flowering occurs from August to October. [1] [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra macrophylla was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley from a specimen collected by James Drummond and the description was published in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony . [4] The specific epithet (macrophylla) is derived from the Ancient Greek words makros meaning "long" [5] :461 and phyllon meaning "leaf". [5] :466

Distribution and habitat

The large-leafed sun orchid is widespread and common between Perth and Albany, growing in jarrah forest and wandoo woodland. [6]

Conservation

Thelymitra macrophylla is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [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.

Thelymitra frenchii, commonly called the scarp sun orchid or Jarrahdale sun orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single long, fleshy leaf and up to three relatively small, blue flowers.

<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 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.

Thelymitra bracteata, commonly called the leafy sun orchid or large-bracted sum orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single leathery, more or less flat leaf and up to thirty pale blue flowers that are greenish on the back. The bracts are larger than on similar sun orchids.

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.

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

Thelymitra graminea, commonly called the shy 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 leathery, channelled leaf and up to ten relatively small blue, self-pollinating flowers with white, toothbrush-like tufts on the 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.

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 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 xanthotricha, commonly called the yellow tufted sun orchid or yellow tufted slender 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, fleshy, channelled, dark green leaf and up to six relatively large dark blue to purplish flowers.

<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.

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.

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

Thelymitra circumsepta, commonly called the naked sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single leathery, dark green leaf and up to twenty blue to purplish or pink flowers with fringed lobes and yellowish hair tufts on top of the column.

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

Thelymitra petrophila, commonly known as the granite sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single erect, channelled, long light green leaf and up to ten or more pale blue to mauve or pink flowers. It grows in drier area, usually in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops.

Thelymitra paludosa, commonly known as the plain sun orchid, 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.

References

  1. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 229–230. ISBN   1877069124.
  2. 1 2 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 443. ISBN   9780980296457.
  3. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 326. ISBN   9780646562322.
  4. "Thelymitra macrophylla". APNI. Retrieved 12 May 2018.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  6. 1 2 "Thelymitra macrophylla". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.