Thelymitra frenchii

Thelymitra frenchii, commonly called the scarp sun orchid[1] or Jarrahdale sun orchid,[2] is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single long, fleshy leaf and up to three relatively small, blue flowers.

Scarp sun orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species:
T. frenchii
Binomial name
Thelymitra frenchii
Jeanes

Description

Thelymitra frenchii is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single channelled, fleshy, pale green, linear to lance-shaped leaf 60–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide. Up to three blue flowers, 18–25 mm (0.7–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 50–140 mm (2–6 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long and 3.5–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The column is bluish to pinkish, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide, mostly yellow with a narrow purplish band and a broad, shallow notch. The side lobes have toothbrush-like tufts of white hairs. The flowers remain open even in cool weather and until late in the day. Flowering has only been observed in October.[1][2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra frenchii was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes from a specimen collected near Jarrahdale and the description was published in Muelleria.[5] The specific epithet (frenchii) honours "Christopher (Chris) J. French" for his assistance to the author.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The scarp sun orchid grows in soil pockets on granite outcrops in jarrah forest. It is only known from near Jarrahdale in the Jarrah Forest biogeographic region.[3][6]

Conservation

Thelymitra frenchii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]

References
  1. Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 442. ISBN 9780980296457.
  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. 229–230. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2004). "A revision of the Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 19: 66–67. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  4. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 319. ISBN 9780646562322.
  5. "Thelymitra frenchii". APNI. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  6. "Thelymitra frenchii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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