Colenso's sun orchid facts for kids

Colenso's sun orchid, also known as Thelymitra colensoi, is a special type of orchid. It belongs to the Orchidaceae family. This beautiful flower grows only in New Zealand. It has one thick, grooved leaf. The plant can have up to seven pale blue, purple, or pink flowers. It looks a bit like another orchid, T. pauciflora. However, Colenso's sun orchid is smaller and not as strong.

What is Colenso's Sun Orchid?

Colenso's sun orchid is a tuberous plant. This means it has a swollen underground stem. It is also a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and has soft stems.

How to Spot This Orchid

Each plant has one thick, grooved leaf. This leaf is shaped like a line or a spear. It can be about 8 to 30 centimeters (3 to 12 inches) long. The leaf is usually 3 to 8 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide.

The plant grows a flowering stem that is 8 to 30 centimeters (3 to 12 inches) tall. On this stem, you can find up to seven flowers. These flowers are usually pale blue, purple, or pink. Each flower is about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide.

The sepals and petals of the flower are 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. They are also 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The central part of the flower, called the column, is pale blue to purple. It is about 4 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 2 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide.

The top part of the column has a dark brown or reddish-brown tip. This tip is bright yellow. The side parts of the column bend sharply upwards. They have soft, brush-like white hairs.

Colenso's sun orchid flowers from July to December. Its flowers usually pollinate themselves. They only open up on very hot and calm days.

Who Named This Orchid?

The scientific name Thelymitra colensoi was first officially described in 1864. A botanist named Joseph Dalton Hooker did this. He described it from a plant sample collected by William Colenso. The description was published in a book called Handbook of the New Zealand Flora. The name colensoi honors William Colenso, who found the original plant.

Where Does It Grow?

Colenso's sun orchid grows in different places. You can find it in areas with shrubs and in forests. It also grows in pine plantations. This orchid often grows near the larger T. pauciflora orchid. Sometimes, it even grows in gardens where pine bark has been added.

You can find Colenso's sun orchid on the North, South, Stewart, and Three Kings Islands of New Zealand.