Thelymitra inflata

Thelymitra inflata, commonly called the inflated sun orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to south eastern Australia. It has a single long, erect, linear leaf and up to six dark blue to purplish flowers with a very inflated lobe on top of the anther.

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

Description

Thelymitra inflata is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, dark green, fleshy, channelled, linear leaf 130–300 mm (5–10 in) long and 4–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide with a purplish base. Up to six dark blue to purplish flowers 16–27 mm (0.6–1 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 200–650 mm (8–30 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 6–13 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long and 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The column is blue or pinkish, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is brownish or black with a yellow tip and a narrow purplish band. It is also inflated, covered with a thick, waxy secretion and its end is split in two lobes. The side lobes slightly curved upwards and have toothbrush-like tufts of white, cream or yellow hairs. Flowering occurs from September to December but the flowers only open on warm to hot days.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra inflata was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes. The description was published in Muelleria from a specimen collected near Mylor.[5] The specific epithet (inflata) is a Latin word meaning "puffed up" or "swollen",[6] referring to the inflated lobe on top of the column.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The inflated sun orchid usually grows in woodland and forest near Hobart in Tasmania, in a few sites in south-western Victoria, and in scattered sites in south-eastern South Australia.[2][3][4][7]

Conservation

Thelymitra inflata is classed as "vulnerable" in South Australia. The main threat to the species in that state is the fungal disease caused by Phytophthora infestans.[7]

References
  1. "Thelymitra inflata". 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. 237–238. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jeanes, Jeffrey A. (2004). "A revision of the Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 19: 71–73. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. Jeanes, Jeff; Stajsic, Val. "Thelymitra inflata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  5. "Thelymitra inflata". APNI. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 438.
  7. "Threatened species profile - Thelymitra inflata" (PDF). Government on South Australia Department for Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.