Thelymitra viridis

Thelymitra viridis, commonly called the green sun orchid,[2] 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.

Green sun orchid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species:
T. viridis
Binomial name
Thelymitra viridis
Jeanes[1]

Description

Thelymitra viridis is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, pale green, fleshy, channelled, linear to lance-shaped leaf 100–250 mm (4–10 in) long and 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide, sometimes with a purplish base. Between two and seven pale blue to pale purple flowers 13–22 mm (0.5–0.9 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 150–300 mm (6–10 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 5–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 3.5–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide and pale green on the back. The column is pale blue to pale green, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is usually yellowish, tube-shaped and gently curved with a small notch. The side lobes curve upwards and have mop-like tufts of white hairs. Flowering occurs in October and November but the flowers are self-pollinating and only open on hot days.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra viridis was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes and the description was published in Muelleria from a specimen collected in the Rocky Cape National Park.[4] The specific epithet (viridis) is a Latin word meaning "green",[5] referring to the overall pale greenish colour of this orchid.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The green sun orchid grows in heath, near swamps and near rocks in coastal Tasmania.[2][3]

References
  1. "Thelymitra viridis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 237. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2004). "A revision of the Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 19: 36–38. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. "Thelymitra viridis". APNI. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 383.
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