Thelymitra is a genus of about 80 species of terrestrial tuberous plants in the Orchidaceae family distributed throughout Australia, New Zealand and islands to the north of Australia. They are known as "sun orchids" because the flowers of most species only open fully on warm, sunny days. Some, such as the scented sun orchid, will have up to 30 flowers open on a single stem. Thelymitra is widespread in the south west of Australia with species found in almost every habitat. Unlike other Australian orchids, this genus has sepals and petals nearly equal in length, with the lip similar to and spreading with them. They have a solitary leaf that is usually elongated and channeled. Species are identified by their color and their column.
Thelymitra antennifera known as rabbit ears or lemon orchid, is found in sand, clay, and loam in moist areas, including swampy and runoff areas on and around granite outcrops. It flowers in late winter and early spring in the southern part of Australia (Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales). It has bright yellow flowers and prominent brown ears on the column. It grows from 12 to 35 cm. tall and has perianth segments 13 to 20 mm long. Photographs below were taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner in southwestern Western Australia in a runoff area next to a granite outcrop in September 2007. The first shows the reddish brown stripe on the outside.
Thelymitra flexuosa or the twisted sun orchid has a wiry zigzagging stem and one to three pale yellow small flowers. The top of the column has reddish marks and the bright yellow anther is swollen. It grows in swamps and low-lying depressions in heathland and heathy forests in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia and on granite outcrops in Western Australia. Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner. The first was taken next to a granite outcrop near Albany, Western Australia and the second two near Apollo Bay, Victoria September and October 2007.
Thelymitra ixioides is known as the dotted sun orchid. It has a deep green narrow ribbed leaf and one to six deep blue to violet flowers with darker spots on the dorsal sepal and the upper petals. It occurs in most of the Australian states, New Zealand and New Caledonia. It is found in many habitats but favors wet reedy or grassy flats, and damp situations in coastal heaths and open forests. The short column has a dark collar, rows of yellow finger-like calli and two white hair tufts. Photos taken near Apollo Bay in Victoria October 2007 by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.
Thelymitra pauciflora , the slender sun orchid, is found in almost all the Australian states and in New Zealand. It is found in many habitats. It is 10 to 30 cm. high usually with only a few flowers that range from pale to deep blue, mauve, or even creamy yellow. It has a reputation for only opening reluctantly. The column is erect with usually white hair tufts and a hood that is yellow at the apex and bluish or dark grey near the middle. Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller near Albany, Western Australia, and Apollo Bay, Victoria we think could be this species.
Thelymitra petrophila has blue or purple flowers and is found in southwestern Western Australia where it grows in many types of soil on rock outcrops soil pockets, dunes, hills, seasonally wet sites, and disturbed ground. The photo below taken at a wildflower show in Albany, September 2007, by Mary Sue Ittner, was labeled with this name even though the color looks wrong.
Thelymitra rubra or the salmon sun orchid is a widespread species growing in marshy lands, in forest or open heathland in the Australian states of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Southern Australia. The flowers are 7 to 9 mm. and reddish or salmon pink. The column is erect with a yellow to orange apex and two yellow hairless lobes. Photos taken October 2007 near Apollo Bay by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.
Thelymitra sp. This species photographed near the Kalgan River, Albany by Bob Rutemoeller could be Thelymitra pauciflora or a hybrid of that species, perhaps with Thelymitra ixioides.
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