Common names
Glistening Sun-orchid
Plum Sun-orchid
Horay Sun-orchid
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. Lucida from the Latin 'lucidus' meaning bright or glittering, referring to the glistening bloom on the post-anther lobe of the column.
Distribution and status
Found in the lower South-east in South Australia, growing in or near sedge swamps on moist or peaty soils, sometime in standing water at flowering time. Also found in Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Very rare in South Australia. Very rare in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Kangaroo Island, South Eastern
NRM regions: Kangaroo Island, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Terrestrial orchid with linear to linear-lanceolate leaves to 35 cm long and 12 mm wide, erect, fleshy, dark green with a purplish baes. Flowering spike straight, green to purplish, to 55 cm high with 1-7 dark blue flowers, petals and labellum often darker than the sepals. Flowering between November and December. This species is distinguished from the similar species Thelymitra mucida, by the thin, glistening layer on the post-anther lobe rather than copious thick, sticky, hoary secretion in T. mucida. Fruits are brown papery obovoid capsule to 15 mm long and 6 mm wide, ribbed. Seeds are very small brown ellipsoid seed with a translucent brown mesh-like covering.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between December and February. 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, refrigerator or in liquid nitrogen. For the NVC South East Orchid Project two populations consisting of more than 320 individuals in total were recorded from the Nangwarry and Wandillo Nature Forest Reserves. Approximately 3,320,000 seeds (4.21 g) were banked from these two populations. Seed viability for the two collections was 77% to 89%. Seed germination for Thelymitra species is difficult in the absence of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA | 73,000 (0.057 g) | 12-Dec-2013 | T.Horn South Eastern | 1-Nov-2017 | N/C | -80°C |