Thelymitra variegata (Lindl.) F. Muell. 1865
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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