Thelymitra crinita

Thelymitra crinita
Flowering at Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Thelymitrinae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species: T. crinita
Binomial name
Thelymitra crinita
Lindl.
Synonyms

Thelymitra ovata F.Muell.

Thelymitra crinita, commonly known as the blue lady orchid, the queen orchid, the lily orchid or the long-haired thelymitra, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.

Description

Thelymitra crinita is a tuberous, perennial herb growing to about 70 cm in height. The leaves are about 16 cm x 4.5 cm, broadly lance-shaped and dark green. The flowers vary from pale to dark blue and there are up to ten flowers on the flower stalk.[1][2] It flowers between September and November.[3]

Taxonomy and naming

The blue lady orchid was first described in 1839 by John Lindley in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.[4] The specific epithet (crinita) is derived from Latin, crinita "hairy".[5]

Distribution and habitat

Thelymitra crinita occurs in the Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions growing on grey-white sand and loamy clay.[6]

Conservation

The blue lady orchid is common in its range and is classified as not threatened at present.[3]

References

  1. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (1984). Orchids of south-west Australia. Nedlands, W.A.: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 52–53. ISBN 0855642262.
  2. Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of southern Western Australia (3rd ed.). Kenthurst, N.S.W.: Rosenberg Pub. p. 147. ISBN 9781877058844. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Thelymitra crinita". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  4. "Thelymitra crinita". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  5. "crinita". Wiktionary. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  6. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 91. ISBN 0646402439.
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