Tall sun orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tall sun orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
media
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The tall sun orchid (scientific name: Thelymitra media) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in eastern Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It has one thick, grooved leaf. It can also have up to thirty blue flowers. These flowers have darker lines but no spots. The lowest petal, called the labellum, is thinner than the other petals and sepals.
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About the Tall Sun Orchid
The tall sun orchid is a plant that grows from a tuber. A tuber is like a small, round storage part underground. This plant is also a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It does not have a woody stem like a tree.
It has one leaf that is thick and dark green. This leaf is shaped like a line or a spear. It can be about 200 to 300 mm (8 to 12 inches) long. The leaf is also about 10 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide. The very bottom of the leaf is often a bit purple.
Its Flowers
The tall sun orchid can have up to thirty flowers. These flowers are pale to dark blue. They have darker streaks or lines on them. Each flower is about 20 to 30 mm (0.8 to 1.2 inches) wide. The flowers grow on a stem that can be 300 to 1000 mm (12 to 39 inches) tall.
The sepals and petals of the flower are about 12 to 17 mm (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long. They are also 6 to 10 mm (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. The labellum is the narrowest part. The column is a part of the flower that holds the pollen. It is white or bluish. It is about 6 to 7 mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. It is also 3 to 4 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The top part of the column has a short lobe. This lobe has a dark collar and a yellow tip. It also has small, finger-like parts on its back. The side parts of the column stick out forward. They have white, fluffy tufts on their ends.
These orchids rely on insects to help them reproduce. The flowers usually open on warm, sunny days. You can see them flowering from October to January.
How it is Different
The tall sun orchid looks a bit like another orchid called Thelymitra ixioides. However, the tall sun orchid is generally bigger. Its flowers also do not have any spots, which is a key difference.
Naming the Tall Sun Orchid
The tall sun orchid was first officially described in 1810. A botanist named Robert Brown gave it its scientific name. He published his description in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.
The second part of its scientific name, media, comes from a Latin word. It means "middle".
Where it Grows
The tall sun orchid lives in forests that get a lot of rain. You can find it in the southeastern part of New South Wales. It also grows in eastern Victoria.
