Thelymitra odora facts for kids

Thelymitra odora is a special kind of orchid. It's quite rare and only grows in a small part of South Australia. This orchid has one tall, thin leaf and can have up to four beautiful deep blue flowers. It looks a bit like another orchid called T. pauciflora. But you can tell Thelymitra odora apart because its flower buds are grey, and the top part of its anther (a flower part) looks different.

What Thelymitra odora Looks Like

Thelymitra odora is a plant that grows from a tuber (like a small potato underground). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It has one straight, thin leaf that is grooved like a channel. This leaf is about 80 to 120 millimeters (3 to 5 inches) long and 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. Its base is a bit purplish.

The plant can have up to four deep blue flowers. These flowers are about 12 to 14 millimeters (0.5 inches) wide. They grow on a stem that stands 150 to 300 millimeters (6 to 12 inches) tall. Before they open, the flower buds are a unique slaty grey color.

Flower Parts

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

The top part of the anther (which holds pollen) is shaped like a tube. It's dark with a yellow, slightly notched tip. The side parts of the column curve sharply upwards. They have white, mop-like tufts of hair on their ends. These flowers usually open on warm, humid days. You can see them flowering between late October and early November.

How Thelymitra odora Got Its Name

The scientific name Thelymitra odora was first officially given in 2010. A scientist named Robert Bates described it after finding a sample near Lobethal in 2007. His description was published in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

The second part of its name, odora, comes from a Latin word. It means "having a smell" or "fragrant." This is special because most Thelymitra orchids do not have a scent. So, this name tells us that Thelymitra odora is one of the few that smells nice!

Where Thelymitra odora Lives

This special orchid is only found in the southern part of the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. It likes to grow in wet areas where water seeps out of the ground. You can also find it on the edges of firebreaks, which are clear areas made to stop fires.