Thelymitra basaltica

Grasslands sun orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Thelymitrinae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species: T. basaltica
Binomial name
Thelymitra basaltica
Jeanes[1]

Thelymitra basaltica, commonly called the grassland sun orchid,[2] 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.

Description

Thelymitra basaltica is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single fleshy but brittle, channelled, dark green, linear to lance-shaped leaf 120–300 mm (5–10 in) long, 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) wide with a purplish base. Between two and eight pale blue to pale purplish blue flowers 15–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) wide are crowded along a flowering stem 100–300 mm (4–10 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 6–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. The column is pale blue, 4–6.5 mm (0.16–0.26 in) long and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is dark purplish to reddish brown with a yellow tip, tubular and gently curved. The side lobes curve upwards and have, toothbrush-like tufts of white hairs. Flowering occurs in September and October but the flowers open only slowly on warm to hot days.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra basaltica was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes and the description was published in Muelleria from a specimen collected near Rokewood.[5] The specific epithet (basaltica) refers to the preference of this orchid to grow in soils derived from basalt.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The grassland sun orchid usually grows in clumps in remnant grassland in soils derived from basalt. It is only known from a small area near Rokewood.[2][3][4]

References

  1. ↑ "Thelymitra basaltica". 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. p. 233. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2004). "A revision of the Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 19: 35–36. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeff. "Thelymitra basaltica". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Thelymitra basaltica". APNI. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
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