Plants of
South Australia
Thelymitra peniculata
Orchidaceae
Peniculate Sun-orchid,
Blue Star Sun-orchid,
Slender Swamp Sun-orchid
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 4

Prior names

Thelymitra longifolia, partly

Common names

Peniculate Sun-orchid

Blue Star Sun-orchid

Slender Swamp 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. Peniculata from the Latin 'peniculus' meaning brush or tuft like the tail of a horse, referring to the trichomes that are more or less confined to the upper half of the lateral lobes in a loose, semi-erect tuft resembling a horse's tail.

Distribution and status

Found in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and the lower South-east in South Australia, growing in a wide range of habitats including grassy woodland, open forest and heathland. Also found in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. rare in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Terrestrial orchid with long, narrow linear leaves to 44 cm long and 20 mm wide, erect, fleshy, dark green with a purplish base. Flowering spike, slender to stout, traight, purplish, to 66 cm high with 1-18 rich purple flowers, opening tardily on warm to hot days. Flowering between late September to late October. Fruits are brown papery obovoid capsule 20 mm long and 8 mm wide, ribbed.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between November and December. 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.