Thelymitra inflata
JeanesFlowering stem erect, straight, 20–40(–65) cm tall, 1.3–3 mm diam., green to purplish. Leaf linear, attenuate, 13–30 cm long, 4–10 mm wide, fleshy, canaliculate, ribbed abaxially, sheathing at base, dark green with a purplish base. Inflorescence 1–6-flowered, open. Sterile bracts usually 2. Perianth segments lanceolate to ovate, 6–13 mm long, dark blue to purplish. Column slender, 5–6 mm long, blue to pinkish; mid-lobe expanded into hood over the anther, tubular, very inflated, gently curved, pinkish brown, brown or less often blackish, grading to yellowish at the apex, covered with a waxy often glistening bloom, apex deeply split into 2 more or less parallel lobes; lateral lobes converging 1.5–2 mm long, digitiform, porrect at base, apical half projecting upwards, each with a toothbrush-like arrangement of white, cream or yellow hairs terminating in front of mid-lobe. Anther inserted towards base of column, shortly beaked. Flowers Sep.–Dec.
Wim, GleP, VVP, GGr, DunT. Also SA, Tas. Grows in moist woodlands and open forest, often in disturbed, winter-wet sites on clay loam soils.
Currently known only from a few sites in south-western Victoria.
Flowers are self-pollinating and only open on warm, humid days.
Distinguished from Thelymitra holmesii and Thelymitra lucida by the thick glistening bloom on the highly inflated mid-lobe of the column.
