Thelymitra alpicola

15 Striped Alpine Sun Orchid at suppressed

Thelymitra alpicola at suppressed - 3 Jan 2023
Thelymitra alpicola at suppressed - 3 Jan 2023
Thelymitra alpicola at suppressed - 3 Jan 2023
Thelymitra alpicola at suppressed - 3 Jan 2023
Request use of media

Identification history

Thelymitra alpicola 8 Jan 2023 MattM
Thelymitra cyanea 6 Jan 2023 Tapirlord
Thelymitra alpicola 6 Jan 2023 RAllen

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

Significant sighting

MattM noted:
8 Jan 2023

First ACT record of this rare orchid species that is listed as Vulnerable in NSW and Critically Endangered in VIC.

User's notes

labellum too small for cyanea. column without white hairs

9 comments

Tapirlord wrote:
   6 Jan 2023
Mark Clements didn't record T.alpicola on the ACT census of vascular plants, these look ok for T.cyanea to me
MattM wrote:
   6 Jan 2023
@RAllen do you have any images of any of the other flowers? My first impression based on your image is T. alpicola as the column apex lobes aren't thin and curly, but it could be that the column has been damaged.
RAllen wrote:
   6 Jan 2023
Unfortunately only one flower was open. Not far to go back though. Wish I had photo from 45 degrees from front.
MattM wrote:
   6 Jan 2023
I will have a look on Sunday as it appears it will be a warm day. It's quite a significant find if it is T. alpicola.
MattM wrote:
   8 Jan 2023
@RAllen I went and had a look at these plants today and they are all T. alpicola. I counted 38 in this area and a further 77 plants further afield.
RAllen wrote:
   8 Jan 2023
Credit to Wendy for finding original. Returned today on way to surveys. No sign of original plant however 15 others in immediate vicinity found by Suzi. Got plenty of photos and will post.
Tapirlord wrote:
   8 Jan 2023
Fantastic find Richard, a seriously significant find for Namadgi & the ACT.
TobiasHayashi wrote:
   10 Jan 2023
Great find guys!
   29 Jan 2023
Emma Cook the Vegetation Ecologist within the ACT Government sent me an email to say that a specimen has been lodged in the Herbarium and the identity was in deed confirmed as Thelymitra alpicola - well done Richard, Wendy and Matt. This orchid is listed as vulnerable in NSW and endangered in Victoria and is not known from any other State.

Please Login or Register to comment.

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 3 Jan 2023 12:29 PM Recorded on
  • RAllen Recorded by

Additional information

  • 10cm to 30cm Plant height
  • 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
2,148,925 sightings of 19,884 species in 6,408 locations from 11,278 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.