Thelymitra megacalyptra

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Plains sun orchid
Thelymitra megacalyptra flower.jpg
Thelymitra megacalyptra near Strathfieldsaye
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species:
T. megacalyptra
Binomial name
Thelymitra megacalyptra
Synonyms [1]

Thelymitra aristata var. megcalyptra (Fitzg.) Rupp

Thelymitra megacalyptra habit Thelymitra megacalyptra habit.jpg
Thelymitra megacalyptra habit

Thelymitra megacalyptra, known as Thelymitra megcalyptra in Australia, [2] and commonly known as plains sun orchid, [3] 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.

Contents

Description

Thelymitra megacalyptra is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, leathery, fleshy, channelled, dark green, linear to lance-shaped leaf 100–350 mm (4–10 in) long and 5–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) wide with a purplish base. Between two and fifteen blue to purplish, sometimes lilac, pink or white flowers 25–45 mm (1–2 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 200–600 mm (8–20 in) tall. There are usually two bracts along the flowering stem. The sepals and petals are 15–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long and 5–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The column is pale blue, white or pinkish, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is dark brown to blackish with a yellow tip and a V-shaped notch. The side lobes turn forwards and have white, toothbrush-like tufts on their ends. The flowers are scented, long-lived, insect-pollinated and open on sunny days. Flowering occurs from August to November. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

The plains sun orchid was first formally described in 1879 by Robert Fitzgerald who gave it the name Thelymitra megcalyptra in his book Australian Orchids. [7] [8] The Australian Plant Census [2] and Australian state herbaria retain the name Thelymitra megcalyptra for this species [3] [4] [5] [6] but Plants of the World Online uses Thelymitra megacalyptra. [1] Fitzgerald gave the specific epithet (megcalyptra) in reference to "the large hood of the column, by which it is readily distinguished from T. media ". [8]

Distribution and habitat

Thelymitra megacalyptra grows in forest, heath and scrubland, sometimes forming large colonies. It occurs in New South Wales south from the Mount Kaputar National Park, in the Australian Capital Territory, in drier parts of Victoria and in the south-east of South Australia. [3] [4] [5]

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 alcockiae</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra alcockiae, commonly called Kath's sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to southern continental Australia. It has a single long, narrow leaf and up to twelve pale blue to deep purplish blue flowers, mauve or reddish on their back side.

<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.

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 albiflora, commonly called the white sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to South Australia. It has a single erect, narrow, fleshy leaf and up to ten relatively small white flowers with white toothbrush-like tufts on top of the anther.

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

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 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> 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 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 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 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.

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> 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 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.

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.

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

Thelymitra alpina, commonly known as the mountain sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single dark green leaf with a purplish base and up to twenty, usually blue to purplish flowers. It grows in alpine, subalpine and montane areas of New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Thelymitra megacalyptra". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Thelymitra megcalyptra". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 231. ISBN   1877069124.
  4. 1 2 3 Jeanes, Jeff; Stajsic, Val. "Thelymitra megcalyptra". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 Bernhardt, Peter. "Thelymitra megcalyptra". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2013). "An overview of the Thelymitra nuda (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia including the description of six new species". Muelleria. 31: 27–30. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. "Thelymitra megcalyptra". APNI. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 Fitzgerald, Robert D. (1879). Australian Orchids (PDF). Vol. 1. Sydney: Thomas Richards, Government Printer. p. 5. Retrieved 22 June 2023.