Thelymitra nuda
Scented or Plain Sun-orchid
Perennial herb with fleshy egg-shaped tubers. Plants are not clump-forming but form massed displays.
Additional information
- FamilyOrchidaceae
- StoreyLower storey
- Sizeto 40 cm high
- Plant groupingOrchids
- LeavesErect single lance-shaped, channelled, fleshy leaf, often reddish base to 30 cm x 10 mm, sheathing at base of stem; 2-3 sheathing stem bracts.
- Flower colourBlue
- Flowering timeNovember to January
- Flowers1-10 scented flowers to 35 mm across. Sepals and petals similar. Column blue with a darker collar and yellow tip; curved mid lobe with cleft hood; column arms have dense terminal tuft of white hairs.
- Bird attractingNo
- Butterfly attractingNo
- Frog habitatNo
- Growing conditionsWell drained soils in open forest. Full sun, semi shade. Flowers open freely on warm days.
- Garden useUse of orchids in gardens is not recommended, unless they already occur naturally, in which case they need to be protected. Removing orchids from the bush usually results in their death and further depletes remaining wild orchid populations.
- Commercially availableRarely
- Conservation statusSignificant within the Shire. Known from very few local sites.
- Aboriginal Use Food - tuber
- Related speciesLocally rare, this species is very similar to the more widespread Thelymitra pauciflora. It flowers more freely than the smaller, shyer T. pauciflora.
Photo Gallery
Photographer/s: 1 Annemaree Docking, NatureShare ©; 2 Kelly Hofert/SYR ©; 3, 4 Neil Blair, Royal Botanic Gardens Board ©
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