Thelymitra benthamiana
Rchb.f. Blotched Sun-orchidFlowering stem erect, straight, 10–55 cm tall, 1.5–5 mm diam., green. Leaf ovate-lanceolate to ovate, 5–25 cm long, 8–55 mm wide, erect or obliquely erect, base contracted, sheathing for up to half its length, blade flattish, leathery, ribbed abaxially, bright green to yellow-green. Inflorescence (1–)3–5(–15)-flowered. Sterile bracts usually 2, sometimes 3. Perianth segments thick-textured, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 10–20 mm long, yellow or yellow-green with dark brown or red-brown spots or blotches. Column erect, 6–10 mm long, green or yellowish with red-brown spots, very broadly winged, the wings deeply fringed along distal margin; mid-lobe short, dorsal surface covered densely with orange hairs; supra-anther lobe 1.7–2.5 mm long, rod-like with a swollen clavate apex, decurrent on mid-lobe; lateral lobes digitiform 1–2 mm long, yellow, each with 2 similar but slightly thinner and longer basal lobes. Anther inserted towards base of column, apex produced into a fleshy, curved beak 2.5–3.5 mm long. Flowers Nov.-early Dec.
GleP, VVP, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, GGr, DunT, WPro, OtR. Also WA, SA. Uncommon in gravelly and heavier clay-soils, mostly in light forest. . Found mostly in heathland, heathy woodlands and open forests on well-drained sand and clay loams.
Thelymitra benthamiana is widespread across southern Australia, while all the rest of the T. fuscolutea complex are confined to Western Australia.
Flowers most prolifically following hot summer fires or other habitat disturbance.
Weber, J.Z.; Entwisle, T.J. (1994). Thelymitra. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 840–854. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
