Thelymitra albiflora

Thelymitra albiflora, commonly called the white sun orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to South Australia. It has a single erect, narrow, fleshy leaf and up to ten relatively small white flowers with white toothbrush-like tufts on top of the anther.

White sun orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species:
T. albiflora
Binomial name
Thelymitra albiflora
Jeanes[1]

Description

Thelymitra albiflora is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, channelled, green, linear to lance-shaped leaf 100–300 mm (4–10 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide with a purplish base. Up to ten white or pale blue flowers 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 100–500 mm (4–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The column is white or pale blue, 4–5.5 mm (0.16–0.22 in) long and 2–2.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is gently curved forwards and reddish brown with a thin purplish band and a yellow tip. The side lobes curve upwards and have long, toothbrush-like tufts of white hairs covering their tops. The flowers only open on warm to hot sunny days and then only slowly. Flowering occurs from September to November.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra albiflora was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes from a specimen collected in the Spring Gully Conservation Park and the description was published in Muelleria.[4] The specific epithet (albiflora) is said to be derived from the Latin words alba meaning "white" or "pale" and floris meaning "flower", referring to the flower colour.[3] The Latin word for "flower" is flos[5] whilst ‑florus translates as "‑flowered".[6]

Distribution and habitat

The white sun orchid grows in the higher rainfall areas of South Australia in heath, forest and woodland.[2][3]

References
  1. "Thelymitra albiflora". 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. p. 232. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2004). "A revision of the Thelymitra pauciflora (Orchidaceae) complex in Australias" (PDF). Muelleria. 19: 38–40. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  4. "Thelymitra albiflora". APNI. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  5. Lewis, C.T. & Short, C. (1879). A Latin dictionary founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  6. Short, Emma; George, Alex (2013). A Primer of Botanical Latin with Vocabulary. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. p. 174. ISBN 9781107693753.
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