Thelymitra crenulata facts for kids

Thelymitra crenulata is a special kind of orchid that belongs to the Orchidaceae family. It grows only in a small part of South Australia. This orchid has a single, thick leaf and can have up to seven deep blue flowers with darker lines. It was first found in 2003. After a lot of rain in spring, you can sometimes see many of these flowers near Mount Gambier.

About the Thelymitra crenulata Orchid

Thelymitra crenulata is a plant that grows from a tuber, which is like a small underground storage organ. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. This orchid has one straight, thick leaf that is shaped like a line. The leaf can be 60 to 200 mm (2.4 to 7.9 in) long and 1 to 3 mm (0.039 to 0.118 in) wide. Its base often has a purplish color.

Flowers and Stems

The plant produces a flowering stem that grows 150 to 300 mm (5.9 to 11.8 in) tall. On this stem, you can find up to seven deep blue flowers. These flowers have darker lines or veins on them. Each flower is about 10 to 12 mm (0.39 to 0.47 in) wide.

The parts of the flower include:

• The sepals and petals, which are like the outer leaves of the flower. They are 6 to 7 mm (0.24 to 0.28 in) long and 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) wide.
• The column, which is a central part of the orchid flower. It is blue and about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide.
• The top part of the anther (where pollen is made) is shaped like a tube. It curves forward and is dark brown with a yellow tip.
• The side parts of the column curve sharply upwards. They have white, mop-like tufts of hair at their ends.

Flowering Time

These beautiful flowers only open for a short time. They need warm, sunny days to fully open. You can usually see them flowering between late October and mid-November. However, they often bloom for only about a week. If there has been a lot of rain in spring, more flowers will appear.

Naming and Discovery

How the Orchid Got Its Name

The Thelymitra crenulata orchid was officially described in 2010. It was named by Robert Bates. He first found a sample of this orchid near Glencoe in 2003. The description of the plant was then published in a scientific book called the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

The second part of its scientific name, crenulata, is a Latin word. It means "minutely crenate" or "finely crinkled." This name refers to the crinkled shape of the anther lobe, which is a part of the flower.

Where Thelymitra crenulata Lives

This orchid grows in areas that have been disturbed, like firebreaks or tracks. You can find it in heathland, which is a type of open land with small shrubs. It usually grows near waterholes. So far, this orchid has only been found near Mount Gambier in South Australia.