Common name: Slender Sun Orchid
Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. APNI*
Description: Terrestrial herb.
Leaf linear to lanceolate, to 20 cm long and 20 mm wide, thick to fleshy, ribbed, robust.
Inflorescence to 50 cm high (often slender), 3–15-flowered. Perianth segments 10 mm long and 5 mm wide (opening tardily) greyish blue to bright blue, white to pink, or purple. Column to 5 mm, white to blue. Midlobe hood brownish yellow grading to whitish blue, notched to shallowly clefted. Lateral arms suberect to erect, ending in white, mauve or pink hairs.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread species in sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.
A very widespread self-pollinating "species" that has developed many distinctive forms, making identification sometimes confusing. Bishop, T (1996) Orchids of New south Wales and Victoria.
Text by P. Bernhardt
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.