Blotched sun orchid

Description

Thelymitra benthamiana, commonly called the leopard sun orchid or blotched sun orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It has a single leathery leaf and up to ten yellowish green flowers with brownish spots, blotches and patterns. The column is yellow with deeply fringed wings and the lobe on top of the anther has a large lump on its top. Thelymitra benthamiana is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single flat, lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaf 50–150 mm (2–6 in) long and 20–35 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. Between two and ten greenish yellow flowers with brownish spots, blotches and patterns, 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–400 mm (8–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide with the labellum (the lowest petal) usually narrower than the other petals and sepals. The column is yellow or greenish, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with broad, fringed wings. The lobe on the top of the anther club-like lump on its summit. Flowering occurs from September to December but flowering is more prolific after fire the previous summer. Thelymitra benthamiana was first formally described in 1871 by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach and the description was published in Beitrage zur Systematischen Pflanzenkunde. The specific epithet (benthamiana) honours George Bentham. The leopard sun orchid is widespread and common, growing in heath and forest. In Western Australia it often grows around the edges of granite outcrops. It is found in Western Australia between Geraldton and Israelite Bay, in southern and western Victoria, in south-eastern South Australia and on Flinders Island in Tasmania. Thelymitra benthamiana is classified as "not threatened" in Western Australia by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. Thelymitra, commonly known as sun orchids, is a genus of more than 100 species of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Unlike most other orchids, sun orchids lack a highly modified labellum and all three petals are similar in size, shape and colour. The column is, however, highly modified and usually has prominent wings or glands which are helpful in identifying the species. Most sun orchids close their flowers at night, in cloudy or cool weather, giving rise to their common name. The scientific name means "woman's hood" and refers to the hooded column present in most, but not all species.