A Sun Orchid at Acton, ACT
Identification history
| Thelymitra sp. | 6 Feb 2021 | MattM | ||
| Thelymitra brevifolia | 4 Nov 2020 | shoko |
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9 comments
MattM
wrote:
4 Nov 2020
The leaf looks a bit long for T. brevifolia. To me the column looks blue in colour, and the column arms appear to be bent up sharply (but it's a bit hard to tell) which leads me to thinking this is T. arenaria. I am always open to comments and suggestions.
shoko
wrote:
4 Nov 2020
Thanks for your suggestion Matt. I've loaded another photo of the flower with a slightly more upright angle, though it's still diagonal and not side-on. I tried loading another side-on image but it didn't want to load, I might just send it to you to separately for consideration. You're right the column arms do look like they're bent quite sharply upwards, and the column body does seem to look slightly larger compared to the post-anther lobe. T. brevifolia might have a slightly larger post-anther lobe in relation to the column body?
MattM
wrote:
4 Nov 2020
Actually it could be T. brevifolia. The leaf looks very similar this other plant your reported: Thelymitra brevifolia (Short-leaf Sun Orchid)
There is so much overlap between the characteristics they are a nightmare to ID. It doesn't help that they all look the same hahaha!
There is so much overlap between the characteristics they are a nightmare to ID. It doesn't help that they all look the same hahaha!
shoko
wrote:
5 Nov 2020
Thanks for chiming in Tobias. I think the leaf was more flat than channelled, slightly ribbed on the abaxial side. But then I don't think I've seen either peniculata or arenaria before, so I can't tell if this flower/plant looks different to them. Pity it's cold and overcast today, otherwise I'd go back and check on the flower..
TobiasHayashi
wrote:
30 Nov 2020
Just looking at this again in a bit more detail. I don't reckon T brevifolia as I don't think the leaf is quite right and also the flowers look larger than for that species. I'm thinking maybe T arenaria given the leaf, although the hairs on the lateral lobes do seem a bit short for arenaria
TobiasHayashi
wrote:
30 Nov 2020
Oh and post anther lobe doesn't seem as notched as normal peniculata
shoko
wrote:
30 Nov 2020
I agree it's not peniculata based on the post-anther lobe not notched as deep. Is the midlobe of brevifolia usually taller and slimmer (i.e. not inflated) in relation to the post-anther lobe? And is the post-anther lobe of brevifolia usually more deeply slit?
Location information
- Maps Black Mountain
- Places Acton, ACT
Sighting information
Species information
- Thelymitra sp. Scientific name
- A Sun Orchid Common name
- Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Machine learning
-
In flower
Record quality
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
