Hi Tapirlord The 3 species of Sun orchid,: Plain, Slender and Trim look all similar to me. Is there any feature to distinguish them and of which a photograph should be taken to help with id?
Waltraud I can only be so helpful off of common names, but I think i'm correct in saying we are talking about T.nuda, T.pauciflora & T.peniculata. T.nuda has a larger flower than the other two (20-50mm across) the others are <20mm across, it is also said to have a pleasent scent.
T.pauciflora and T.peniculata are supposedly seperated based on the column arms curving up at a 90 degree angle in T.pauciflora while in T.peniculata the column arms extend straight out. T.pauciflora is also said to have a deeply channeled leaf.
However, Thely's experience a great deal of variation throughout their occurence within our region. My understanding is that there is some taxonmy that is yet to be resolved, I think Mark Clements believes that what we have in Canberra are mostly a variation of T.peniculata but would need to check that. Derek will know.
Oh also, to ID a couple of images showing the column (preferably from multiple angles), if you could include a ruler in those shots that is also helpful. Additionally an image of the leaf and commentary on whether or not it is channeled or ribbed.
Waltraud this most likely T. megcalyptra. It is a larger larger blue flowering species even though we have no scale to consider. This basically means it is part of the T. nuda complex and includes T. alpina, T. megcalytra and T. nuda. These all have larger flowers 40 mm, 45 mm and 35 mm respectively, measured across the flower. Knowing the flower dimensions helps but is not conclusive as is the stem height helpful. This plant is reported to be very short but I suspect not measured. Having a photo of the leaf would have been very useful but not always conclusive. The main distinguishing feature in identifying/separating out T. megcalyptra is that the flowers when fully open, the petals do not overlap the sepals and while this can be true it is not always the case nor the case as the flower opens or closes. In photo of these flowers this separation may be true but it is difficult to be sure considering the angle to each flower. A close up photo of the most open flower from several angles would always help but should include one from the front preferably with a scale or a suggested dimension. I will confirm this as T. megcalyptra.
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