Thelymitra variegata (Lindl.) F. Muell. 1865

Another Color Form

Photos by Ron Heberle and the Thelymitra Page of The Species Orchid Society of Western Australia

LATE and

Common Name The Irregularily Spotted Thelymitra - In Australia - The Queen of Sheba Orchid

Flower Size 1.2 to 2" [3 to 5 cm]

Found in Western Australia at elevations of 50 to 300 meters among low shrubs and grass tussocks in forests, woodlands and heathlands as a miniature to medium sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial orchid with a slender stem carrying an erect, usually undulate, occasionally spiral, linear, channeled, much dilated basally, often pubescent sheathed leaf, that blooms in the late winter and spring on an erect, 4 to 14" [20 to 35 cm] long, 1 to 3 flowered inflorescence carrying iridescent flowers.

As the name implies the flowers are each uniquely spotted and have a large variation in shape.

Synonyms *Macdonaldia variegata 1840; Thelymitra porphyrostica F.Muell. 1865

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Australia Nicholls 1969 drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 54 No 4 1985 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 56 #6 1987 postage stamp fide;The Manual Of Cultivated Orchid Species Bechtel, Cribb & Launert 1992 photo fide; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 photo ok; AOS Bulletin Vol 76 No 12 2007 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 80 #8 2011 photo fide;

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