Family: Orchidaceae
Thelymitra flexuosa
Citation:
Endl., Nov. Stirp. Dec. 23 (1839).
Synonymy: Macdonaldia smithiana, Thelymitra smithiana Common name: Twisted sun-orchid.
Description:
A very slender species, usually 15-20 cm high; leaf terete above its opening, 7-8 cm long; stem very wiry, flexuose; stem bracts 2, situated at points of flexion.
Flowers small, yellow, 1 or 2, opening on hot days; perianth-segments very obtuse; sepals concave, ovate; petals oval, c. 7 mm long, the labellum segment rather shorter and narrower than the others; column erect, c. 4.5 mm high, not hooded, widely winged; the wings only very slightly produced at the sides into rounded-dentate lobes; post-anther lobe slightly notched and rather higher than the side lobules; all very much shorter than the anther; anther situated entirely above the stigma, apex produced into a large oblong fleshy downy anther point, greatly exceeding the lobes of the wings; pollinia 4 (in 2 pairs), directly connected with the viscid disk; stigma somewhat rectangular; flower self-pollinated.
Published illustration:
Fitzgerald (1888) Australian orchids vol. 2, pt 3; Gray (1971) Victorian native orchids 2:41; Hoffman & Brown (1984) Orchids of south-west Australia, p. 16.
Distribution:
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Occurs singly or as small clumps of plants in soil which is very wet in winter, in open forest or heathland in higher rainfall districts.
S.Aust.: EP, SL, KI, SE. W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: Sept. — Nov.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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