Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 314 (1810).

Synonymy: T. megcalyptra Fitzg., Aust. Orch. 1, 5:t. 2 (1879); T. aristara Lindley var. megcalyptra (Fitzg.) Nicholls ex J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 215 (1943); T. aristata sensu J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 215 (1943), non Lindley.

Common name: Scented sun-orchid, plain sun-orchid.

Description:
Varies from a slender to a robust habit 10-60 cm high; leaf very variable, often 30 cm long and 10-20 mm wide, strap-shaped, more or less ridged, thick but flaccid, sometimes glaucous, other times green with a red base.

Flowers often scented, 1-15 opening freely, 20-40 mm diam.; perianth-segments rather acute, 10-20 mm long, reddish-green externally, internally occasionally white, purple or pink, commonly blue, without stripes or spots; dorsal sepal slightly broader than the laterals; petals and labellum alike, ovate, subacute; column erect, c. 6 mm high, hooded; column-arms terete, usually bent inward, cilia numerous, white, short and crowded in globose masses, lying more or less under a post-anther lobe; post-anther lobe sometimes dark-coloured and smooth above the middle, more or less yellowish at the margin, notched, often laterally dilated, hooded, overtopping the hair-tufts; anther point showing at the base of the post-anther lobe, with the stigma concealing the anther; stigma prominent, with the upper border conspicuously cleft; pollinia in 2 pairs; not collapsing onto the stigma, insect-pollinated.

Published illustration: Cady & Rotherham (1970)Australian native orchids in colour, pl. 27 as T. aristara; Pocock (1972) Ground orchids of Australia, pl. 137 as T. aristara & pl. 146 as T. pauciflora; Hoffman & Brown (1984) Orchids of south-west Australia, p. 54 as T. pauciflora & p. 56.

Distribution:  Occurs in small to quite extensive numbers in well drained soils in open locations in areas receiving more than 200 mm mean annual rainfall. Widespread and locally common.   All States except the N.T. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Aug. — Nov.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Smaller forms of T. nuda are very similar to T. pauciflora. T. nuda is here regarded as distinct from T. longifolia from New Zealand which has small, pale-coloured flowers which seldom open. Putative hybrids have been reported with T. luteocilium which are described as T. xchasmogama, also with T. aristara (FR), T. canaliculata, T. ixioides and T. pauc~fiora (SL).

Author: Not yet available