THELYMITRA (Sun orchids)
Thelymitra's are a terrestrial orchid genus found in Australia, (50 odd species) New Zealand, (about a dozen species) New Caledonia, (2) and the odd one in Timor, Java, and The Philippines.
The Thelymitra's on the following pages, all come from the
south west of Western Australia, specifically, the area around Albany, which is
known for it's unusual flora. Thelymitra's are known as 'Sun Orchids' because
of their tendency to only open on sunny days, closing at night and during cold
and cloudy weather.
Unlike most orchids, the lip, or what passes for a lip, is usually the same
shape as the petals. There are, however, a few species in which the lip tends
to be modified slightly, and appears to be shaped like a 'normal' orchid
lip.�
One of the most outstanding features of Thelymitra's, is the huge colour range,
which can include white, yellow, pink, red, orange, blue, purple and all sorts
of combinations of the above, which can produce orchids that are quite
stunning, as Ron Heberle's photographs will show. The blue Thelymitra's can be
quite unbelievable when one comes across them in the bush, as true blue orchids
are so rare in nature. The number of flowers carried on Thelymitra's, varies
between one and 20 to 25, sometimes more. Flower size is between 1 - 6cm.
Ron Heberle
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Thelymitra antennifera, Mt
Clarence, Albany, Oct 1988 |
Thelymitra apiculata, East
Mogumber, April 1986 |
|
Thelymitra benthamiana,
Poorrarecup, Frankland, Nov 1989 |
|
Possible hybrid Thelymitra benthamiana x Thelymitra
macrophylla, Mt
Barker, Nov 1980 |
|
Thelymitra campanulata, Grange,
Oct 1980 |
Thelymitra canaliculata, Lake
Seppings, Albany, Dec 1987 |
|
Possible hybrid Thelymitra canaliculata x Thelymitra
macrophylla, Albany,
Dec 1980 |
|
Thelymitra carnea |
Thelymitra cornicina, Bakers
Junction, Albany, Sep 1987 |
|
Thelymitra crinita, Mt
Barker, Mt Barker, Nov 1990 |
Thelymitra crinita Albino,
Frankland, Nov 1980 |
|
Possible hybrid Thelymitra crinita x Thelymitra
canaliculata, Emu
Point, Albany, Nov 1985 |
Possible hybrid Thelymitra crinita x Thelymitra
macrophylla |
|
Possible hybrid Thelymitra crinita x Thelymitra
nuda, Albany,
Nov 1985 |
|
Thelymitra cucullata |
|
Thelymitra flexuosa, Thelymitra
psammophilla, Borden,
Sep 1982 |
|
Thelymitra fuscolutea, Mt
Clarence, Albany, Dec 1982 |
Thelymitra fuscolutea (yellow),
Poorarecup, Nov 1989 |
|
Possible hybrid Thelymitra fuscolutea x Thelymitra
nuda, Albany
Nov 1985 |
|
Thelymitra macmillanii,
Northampton, Aug 1992 |
|
Thelymitra macrophylla, Lake
Muir, Oct 1991 |
|
Thelymitra mucida,
Redmond, Nov 1991 |
|
Possible hybrid Thelymitra mucida x Thelymitra
nuda,
Redmond, Oct 1978 |
Thelymitra nuda, Frankland, Nov 1985 |
|
Thelymitra pauciflora,
Bannister, Sep 1978 |
Thelymitra psammophilla, Borden,
Oct 1984 |
|
Thelymitra sargentii,
Murchison, Sep 1972 |
|
Possible hybrid Thelymitra sargentii x Thelymitra
villosa,
Yournanning, Sep 1991 |
|
Thelymitra spiralis,
Nanarup, Jul 1978 |
Thelymitra spiralis variety punctata,
Popaninning |
|
Thelymitra spiralis variety scoulerae,
Popaninning |
Thelymitra stellata,
Armadale, Sep 1986 |
|
Thelymitra tigrina, Lake
Seppings, Albany, Dec 1987 |
|
Thelymitra tigrina, Two
People Bay, Dec 1991 |
Thelymitra variegata, Capel,
Sep 1987 |
|
Thelymitra variegata variety apiculata,
Mogumber, May 1986 |
�
|
Thelymitra villosa, Lort
River, Sep 1995 |