Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids
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Thelymitra queenslandica ined.

Northern Sun Orchid

Jeanes ined. Name not published yet.

Distribution

Occurs in north-eastern Queensland from Mount Finnigan to Paluma.

Altitude: 800-1300 m.

Description

Terrestrial herb. Plants single with slender grass-like habit. Tubers 2, obovoid, fleshy. Leaf solitary, erect, basal; lamina lanceolate, 15-50 cm x 0.5-1.5 cm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, erect, 200-600 mm x 1.5-3.5 mm with sterile bracts 2-4. Flowers 4-15 open sequentially, resupinate, porrect, star-shaped, 25-40 mm across, dark blue to purplish, rarely white, pinkish or lilac, externally mauve. Sepals and petals free, similar in size and shape, 10-20 mm x 5-10 mm. Labellum unlobed, margins entire. Column 6-7 x 3-4 mm, pale blue to pinkish; post-anther lobe 3.5-4 x 2-3.5 mm, tan to dark brown with conspicuous yellow apex, hooded, tubular, inflated, V-notched; column arms converging, curved upwards, 1.2-1.7 mm long; hair-tufts mop-like, white or pink, with hairs 1-1.5 mm long. Capsules erect, ???dehiscent.???? ***SD filled out desc from coding - TH to check***

Ecology

Occurs on slopes and among rocks in open forests, less commonly along rainforest margins and around margins of large rock sheets. It also colonises road embankments. The long-lasting insect-pollinated flowers open freely on warm sunny days. A population in Herberton Range flowers earlier in the season, from May to July.

Locally common.

Flowering period: June-September.

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