Thelymitra sp. (pauciflora complex)
Sun Orchid at Sutton, NSW
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| Thelymitra sp. (pauciflora complex) | MattM | 12 Nov 2022 | |
| Thelymitra sp. (pauciflora complex) | Tapirlord | 11 Nov 2022 | |
| Unverified | brunonia | 10 Nov 2022 |
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2 comments
11 Nov 2022
This record's photo represents possibly the ACT and regions most common and numerous Sun Orchid species but the difficulty is, these are not truly either T. pauciflora nor T. peniculata when comparing to type definitions. In reality we desperately unconvincingly attempt to shoehorn them into one or other of these boxes based on our prefered choice of chosen feature/s. This flower shows a shallow groove in the top of the post-anther lobe which is also possibly slightly inflated and ignoring everything else I might say T. peniculata but most of these plants, as I expect this one has, have thin 3-6 mm 'V' shaped channelled leaf which would suggest it must be T. pauciflora. Both the flower and leaf form are variable to some degree just adding to the complexity. I have seen plants with multiple flowers where one will have features considered T. peniculata and the next flower those of T. pauciflora on the same plant or flower features considered T. peniculata like but with a very narrow channelled leaf.
During a conversation regarding this issue yesterday with Mark Clements, he suggested these most common plants are most likely an ACT region subgroup or form of T. peniculata but not truely either of the exact type species. Further DNA analysis may provide an answer in the future. But in the light of this yet to be resolved difficulty then T. pauciflora complex may be the next best we can do, though this complex grouping involves many more species than just the two I have reference and includes several other ACT region species.
During a conversation regarding this issue yesterday with Mark Clements, he suggested these most common plants are most likely an ACT region subgroup or form of T. peniculata but not truely either of the exact type species. Further DNA analysis may provide an answer in the future. But in the light of this yet to be resolved difficulty then T. pauciflora complex may be the next best we can do, though this complex grouping involves many more species than just the two I have reference and includes several other ACT region species.
Location information
- Places Sutton, NSW
Sighting information
- 5 Abundance
- brunonia Recorded by
- 10cm to 30cm Plant height
- Yes In flower
Collections
- brunonia Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Thelymitra sp. (pauciflora complex) Orchids Plants
Species information
- Thelymitra sp. (pauciflora complex) Scientific name
- Sun Orchid Common name
- Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1029m Recorded at altitude
Seasonal activity
-
In flower
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Record quality
Quality score
3 / 7
- Images or audio
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Additional attributes
- More than one media file
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description