Thelymitra simulata

Thelymitra simulata, commonly called the collared sun orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single fleshy, channelled leaf and up to six blue flowers with small darker spots. It grows in higher altitudes places part and the flowers have a purple lobe with a yellow tip on top of the anther.

Collared sun orchid
Thelymitra simulata in Namadgi National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species:
T. simulata
Binomial name
Thelymitra simulata

Description

Thelymitra simulata is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single fleshy, channelled, linear to lance-shaped leaf 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide with a reddish base. Up to six blue flowers with darker spots, 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 200–560 mm (8–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide. The column is bluish white, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is brownish purple with a yellow tip and small teeth. The side lobes have mop-like tufts of white hairs. Flowering occurs in December and January but the flowers are self-pollinated and only open on hot days.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra simulata was first formally described in 1998 by David Jones and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[5] The specific epithet (simulata) is a Latin word meaning “imitate" or "copy",[6] referring to the similarity of this species to T. × truncata.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The collared sun orchid grows in montane and subalpine grassland, woodland and forest in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania.[2][3][4]

References
  1. "Thelymitra simulata". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 241–242. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3: 195–196.
  4. Jeanes, Jeff; Stajsic, Val. "Thelymitra simulata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  5. "Thelymitra simulata". APNI. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 482.
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