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Thelymitra media

6 Tall Sun Orchid at Cotter River, ACT

Thelymitra media at Cotter River, ACT - 27 Dec 2022
Thelymitra media at Cotter River, ACT - 27 Dec 2022
Thelymitra media at Cotter River, ACT - 27 Dec 2022
Thelymitra media at Cotter River, ACT - 27 Dec 2022
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Identification history

Thelymitra media 29 Jan 2023 TobiasHayashi
Thelymitra media 26 Jan 2023 MattM
Thelymitra alpina 18 Jan 2023 Tapirlord
Thelymitra sp. 18 Jan 2023 natureguy
Unidentified 18 Jan 2023 GG

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Significant sighting

Tapirlord noted:
29 Jan 2023

The very first record of this species in the ACT, a very nice find which adds to our local floral diversity. Well worth keeping an eye out for large sun orchids this coming season as it would be great to find more!

7 comments

MattM wrote:
   26 Jan 2023
@TobiasHayashi thoughts on this being Thelymitra media?
Tapirlord wrote:
   26 Jan 2023
That's pretty cool, has T.media been recorded from the ACT yet?
MattM wrote:
   26 Jan 2023
No. If my ID is correct (which I am fairly confident on but await a second opinion) this would be a first for the ACT. Thelymitra media appears to be widely distributed throughout NSW and VIC, but is generally uncommon. This is pretty significant in that not only it would be a first for the ACT, but it would be the second new Thelymitra species for the ACT within the space of a month. It's a very good find!
Tapirlord wrote:
   26 Jan 2023
Gotcha, I did think it looked odd for T.alpina at the time but wasn't sure what else it could be. Didn't even consider T.media though I reckon it looks pretty good from what I can tell.
   26 Jan 2023
Following...!
   28 Jan 2023
I’m only on my phone screen at the moment so can’t check - will have a proper look tomorrow but it sure looks interesting!
   29 Jan 2023
Agree this is Thelymitra media! Nice find and good pick up Matt. I've seen this thing in Victoria, its a pretty tall and nice looking thing in the flesh. Reasonably common in montane dry forest there and also in NSW so perhaps surprising we haven't seen more in the region.

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Location information

Species information

  • Thelymitra media Scientific name
  • Tall Sun Orchid Common name
  • Sensitive
  • Local Native
  • Non-Invasive

Sighting information

  • 4 - 15 Abundance
  • 27 Dec 2022 12:18 PM Recorded on
  • GG Recorded by

Additional information

  • 30cm to 1 metre Plant height
  • True In flower

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
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