Thelymitra vulgaris

Thelymitra vulgaris, commonly called the slender sun orchid[2] or common sun orchid,[3] is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, dark green leaf and up to nine relatively small, blue to purplish or white flowers.

Slender 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. vulgaris
Binomial name
Thelymitra vulgaris
Jeanes[1]

Description

Thelymitra vulgaris is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, channelled, dark green, linear to lance-shaped leaf 100–300 mm (4–10 in) long and 4–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide. Between two and nine blue to purplish or white flowers, 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 100–400 mm (4–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 6–13 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long and 2.5–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The column is pale blue or white, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is reddish brown with a yellow tip, gently curved and tube-shaped with a deeply notched tip. The side lobes curve gently upwards and have toothbrush-like tufts of white hairs with a glandular tip. The flowers are self-pollinating and open only slowly, even on hot days. Flowering occurs from September to November.[2][3][4][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra vulgaris was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes and the description was published in Muelleria.[7] The specific epithet (vulgaris) is a Latin word meaning "common" or "commonplace",[8] referring to this species being the most common and widespread sun orchid in Western Australia.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The scarp sun orchid grows in a wide range of habitats ranging from winter-wet swamps to soil pockets on granite outcrops. It is found from Geraldton to Esperance and is especially common in swampy place between Manjimup and Mount Barker.[2][3][9]

Conservation

Thelymitra vulgaris is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[9]

References
  1. "Thelymitra vulgaris". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 445. ISBN 9780980296457.
  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. 237. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2004). "A revision of the Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 19: 58–62. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  5. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 316. ISBN 9780646562322.
  6. Archer, William. "Thelymitra vulgaris - slender sun orchid". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  7. "Thelymitra vulgaris". APNI. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 222.
  9. "Thelymitra vulgaris". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
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