Thelymitra arenaria

Forest Sun Orchid at Cook, ACT

Thelymitra arenaria at Cook, ACT - 17 Oct 2015
Thelymitra arenaria at Cook, ACT - 17 Oct 2015
Thelymitra arenaria at Cook, ACT - 17 Oct 2015
Thelymitra arenaria at Cook, ACT - 17 Oct 2015
Thelymitra arenaria at Cook, ACT - 17 Oct 2015
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Identification history

Thelymitra arenaria 25 Oct 2015 TonyWood
Thelymitra peniculata 17 Oct 2015 MattM

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Significant sighting

26 Oct 2015

Thanks Matt another very rarely recorded ACT species. I think this may be a first for Aranda Bushland

User's notes

One plant closing up as I arrived at the site at 1:40 pm. Leaf was about 8-9 mm wide (I used the ruler in the back of the field guide. Are the hair tufts the right shape for peniculata, or do I need to go back?

4 comments

TonyWood wrote:
   18 Oct 2015
Matt, I can't be sure. It's certainly one of the T. pauciflora complex. The column arms appear to be bent quite sharply upwards and converging, so could be one of T. arenaria, T. brevifolia or T. peniculata. Anyone else have thoughts on this one?
MattM wrote:
   26 Oct 2015
I have uploaded two photos of the flower, this time open. I hope it is easier for you to ID it, if possible.
TonyWood wrote:
   26 Oct 2015
Matt, I would say the most likely is T. arenaria. The leaf is quite broad and only faintly ribbed, the column arms are sharply upturned, and the top of the column is dark brown which all fits.
MattM wrote:
   26 Oct 2015
Based on what you have just said, I'd have to agree with you. When I uploaded the other pictures today I thought to myself that this was certainly not T. peniculata, but another one of T. pauciflora's many identical twins...

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 4 - 15 Abundance
  • 17 Oct 2015 12:00 AM Recorded on
  • MattM Recorded by

Additional information

  • True In flower

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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