Thelymitra sp.

A Sun Orchid at Canberra Central, ACT

Thelymitra sp. at Canberra Central, ACT - 9 Nov 2017
Thelymitra sp. at Canberra Central, ACT - 9 Nov 2017
Thelymitra sp. at Canberra Central, ACT - 9 Nov 2017
Thelymitra sp. at Canberra Central, ACT - 9 Nov 2017
Thelymitra sp. at Canberra Central, ACT - 9 Nov 2017
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Identification history

Thelymitra sp. 9 Nov 2017 TonyWood
Thelymitra pauciflora 9 Nov 2017 petersan

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8 comments

TonyWood wrote:
   10 Nov 2017
One of the T. pauciflora group but the leaf looks too big for T. pauciflora. Pity the flowers are not fully open.
petersan wrote:
   11 Nov 2017
Tony, what do you need to make amore definitive assessment? I have more photos. Peter
TonyWood wrote:
   11 Nov 2017
As I said it would be good if the flowers were more fully open to provide a good view of the column. From what I can see the column arms project more or less straight out to perhaps curving gently upwards (in T. pauciflora they are bent up near the middle). Also T. pauciflora rarely has more than 3 flowers and the leaf is narrow. To me your plant looks more like T. peniculata.
petersan wrote:
   11 Nov 2017
I will post three more photos now as a new record - same plant.
waltraud wrote:
   12 Nov 2017
Peter, see comments at http://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sightings/Details/1974679
I re-uploaded the 2 species of sun orchids which are possibly
T. brevifolia http://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sightings/Details/3384869
T. megacalyptra http://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sightings/Details/3384870
Both species haven't been recorded on Mt Majura. Unfortunately we do not know the exact location (see comments). If you happen to walk in that area please keep an eye on the sun orchids...
Many thanks
Waltraud
petersan wrote:
   12 Nov 2017
I think Thelymitra sp is relatively common in the area - problem is they are grazed. I located three plants at this site - when I returned there was one so I took the liberty of putting a small cage around the surviver and hence the current discussion. There were two other sites where I located good leaves and buds roughly where Aaron had identified flowers in 2015 I think. I checked these regularly but they too disappeared before flowering. It seems to me little is really known about what sun orchids may actually be there on Majura - I see many leaves but they soon disappear..
waltraud wrote:
   14 Nov 2017
Peter
It would be great if Mt Majura's the sun orchids could be identified. I can provide cages and stakes if that is of any help. Unfortunately I still struggle with my knee (can't bush bash or walk steep slopes) and thus can't help to install. But I could drive you, stakes & cages to nearest point.
w
waltraud wrote:
   14 Nov 2017
There are Eastern grey kangaroo, Swamp wallaby, Red neck wallaby, hares and rabbits - Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie would look differently if there was less grazing :-(

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 9 Nov 2017 01:01 PM Recorded on
  • petersan Recorded by

Additional information

  • True In flower

Species information

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