Western azure sun orchid facts for kids
Thelymitra occidentalis, also known as the western azure sun orchid or rimmed orchid, is a beautiful type of orchid. It belongs to the Orchidaceae family. This special plant is found only in the south-west part of Australia. It has one tall, fleshy, dark green leaf. The orchid grows up to fifteen blue flowers. These flowers often have darker blue lines and sometimes a touch of pink. A part of the flower called the anther has a wavy, yellow crest on top.
Quick facts for kids Western azure sun orchid |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thelymitra
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| Species: |
occidentalis
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Contents
What Does the Western Azure Sun Orchid Look Like?
The western azure sun orchid is a tuberous plant. This means it has a swollen underground stem that stores food. It is also a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and has soft, green stems.
Leaves and Flowers
This orchid has one upright, fleshy, dark green leaf. The leaf is shaped like a line or a spear. It can be about 80 to 250 mm (3 to 10 inches) long. The leaf is also 3 to 10 mm (0.1 to 0.4 inches) wide. Its base, where it connects to the plant, is often purplish.
The plant grows a flowering stem that is 120 to 400 mm (5 to 16 inches) tall. On this stem, you can find between two and fifteen blue flowers. These flowers have darker blue lines. They are often flushed with pink and are 15 to 32 mm (0.6 to 1.3 inches) wide.
Flower Parts
The sepals and petals of the flower are 7 to 15 mm (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. They are also 3 to 6 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The column is a central part of the flower. It is whitish or light blue. This column is 3 to 5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long and 2 to 3 mm (0.1 inches) wide. It has flat parts called flanges on its sides.
The top part of the anther, which holds pollen, is purplish-black. It has a wavy yellow crest. The side parts of the column have tufts of purple or white hairs. These look like small mops.
How It Blooms
The flowers are pollinated by insects. This means insects help carry pollen from one flower to another. The flowers open up on hot days. You can see them flowering from September to November.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The scientific name Thelymitra occidentalis was first officially described in 2001. It was described by a scientist named Jeff Jeanes. His description was published in a journal called Muelleria. He studied a plant sample collected near Cranbrook.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of the name, occidentalis, is a Latin word. It means "western." This name was chosen because this orchid grows in the western part of Australia. It helps to tell it apart from a similar orchid called T. azurea.
Where Does This Orchid Grow?
The western azure sun orchid likes to grow in areas with heath and woodland. You can often find it near rocky places. It also grows near areas that get wet in winter, like small depressions in the ground.
Locations
This orchid is found between Cranbrook in Western Australia and Eyre in South Australia. It has also been seen on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
Is the Western Azure Sun Orchid Safe?
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Thelymitra latiloba. They have classified it as "not threatened" in Western Australia. This means that the plant is not currently at risk of disappearing.
