Prior names
Thelymitra cyanapicta (orth.), partly
Etymology
Thelymitra from Greek 'thelys' meaning a bishop and 'mitra' meaning a headwear, hat, hence a bishop’s mitre, referring to the sometimes plumed or decorated wings of the column, which is usually produced behind and over the anther in a hood-like projection. Cyanapicata from the Latin 'cyan' meaning blue and 'apica' meaning apex, referring to the dark purplish blue apex column (post anther lobe) of the flower.
Distribution and status
Endemic to South Australia and is only known from a few localities in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges, growing in Eucalyptus viminalis open swampy woodland with a dense understorey of sedges and ferns, in wet sandy soils. Native. Very rare in South Australia.
Herbarium regions: Southern Lofty, Green Adelaide
NRM region: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Erect terrestrial orchid with linear leaf to 22 cm long and 6 mm wide, erect, fleshy, green with a purplish base. Flowering stem wiry, purplish to 20 cm tall with 1-3 small, blue tardily opening flowers. Lateral lobes short, bend upward sharply at about the middle, each with a dense subglobose cluster of short white hairs. Flowering between October and November. This species is distinguishable by its dark purplish blue post-anther lobe. Fruits are brown papery ellipsoid capsule, ribbed. Seeds are very small dark brown ellipsoid seed with an ovoid translucent brown mesh-like covering
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between November and January. Collect fat capsules as they start to dry and turn brown. Pods will split and release the seeds quickly and will require monitoring. To increase the chances of collecting mature pods, it is recommended that a small breathable bag (ie. Organza bags) be used to enclose the developing capsules. Place the capsules in a container that will hold fine seeds and leave to dry for a few weeks or until the capsule split. Then carefully hold the capsule and tap it gently to release the seeds. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place or in liquid nitrogen. Symbiotic in-vitro propagation for this species is being undertaken by Dr Noushka Reiter at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and the SA Seed Conservation Centre at Adelaide Botanic Gardens with the help of Kildare College science teacher Paul Beltrame and a small group of dedicated students. The dedicated propagation work being undertaken for this species is sponsored by ForestrySA.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18-Dec-2007 | J. Quarmby Southern Lofty | 1-Nov-2016 | N/C | -80°C | |||
BGA MSB | 500,000 500,000 | 10 | 26-Nov-2007 | RJB75900 Southern Lofty | 1-Nov-2016 | N/C | -80°C |
BGA | 255,000 (0.1633 g) | 13 | 26-Nov-2015 | DJD3297 Southern Lofty | 1-Nov-2016 | 75% | -80°C |
18-Dec-2007 | J. Quarmby Southern Lofty | 1-Nov-2016 | N/C | -80°C | |||
BGA | 1,024,000 (0.66 g) | 22 | 14-Dec-2016 | DJD3297 Southern Lofty | 1-Nov-2017 | N/C | -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 79,000 (0.062 g) | 12 | 26-Nov-2015 | DJD3297 Southern Lofty | 1-Nov-2017 | N/C | -80°C |
BGA | 166,700 (0.13 g) | 7 | 5-Dec-2017 | T. Bridle Southern Lofty | 30-Jun-2018 | N/C | -18°C |
BGA | 118,600 (0.092 g) | 11 | 29-Nov-2018 | Kuitpo NFR Southern Lofty | 24-Apr-2019 | N/C | -18°C |
BGA | 43,600 (0.034 g) | 2 | 30-Dec-2018 | T.Bridle Southern Lofty | 24-Apr-2019 | N/C | -18°C |
BGA | 20,400 (0.016 g) | 3 | 30-Dec-2018 | T.Bridle Southern Lofty | 24-Apr-2019 | N/C | -18°C |
BGA | 65,000 (0.051 g) | 4 | 10-Dec-2019 | T.Bridle Southern Lofty | 24-Jun-2020 | N/C | -18°C |
BGA | 423,000 (0.33 g) | 32 | 4-Dec-2019 | Knott Hills, Kuitpo Forest Southern Lofty | 24-Jun-2020 | N/C | -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 19,700 (0.007 g) | 2 | 12-Dec-2019 | Leo Davis Southern Lofty | 24-Jun-2020 | -18°C | |
BGA | 11,000 (0.009 g) | 1 | 25-Nov-2019 | T.Bridle Southern Lofty | 24-Jun-2020 | N/C | -18°C |
BGA | 168,000 (0.130 g) | 7 | 10-Nov-2020 | Kuitpo Forest Southern Lofty | 28-Jun-2021 | N/C | -18°C |
BGA | 170,500 (0.133 g) | 6 | 30-Nov-2021 | Onkeeta Swamp Wild Southern Lofty | 10-Aug-2022 | N/C | -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 1,135,000 (0.885 g) | 12 | 17-Nov-2021 | Knott Hill NFR, Kuitpo Forest Southern Lofty | 10-Aug-2022 | N/C | -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 8,820,000 (6.878 g) | 30+ | 14-Nov-2022 | DJD3295 Nursery Southern Lofty | 21-Jun-2023 | N/C | -18°C, -80°C |