Difference between revisions of "Thelymitra"

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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
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| name = ''Thelymitra''
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| common_names = Sun Orchids
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| growth_habit = ?  <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->
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| high = ?  <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
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| wide =    <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
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| origin = ?  <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
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| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
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| lifespan =    <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
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| exposure = ?  <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
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| water = ?  <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
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| features =    <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
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| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
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| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
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| usda_zones = ?  <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
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| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
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| color = IndianRed
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| image = Thelymitra rubra 220404.jpg
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| image_width = 240px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
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| image_caption = Salmon Sun orchid (''Thelymitra rubra'')
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| regnum = Plantae
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
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| classis = Liliopsida
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| ordo = Asparagales
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| familia = Orchidaceae
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| tribus = Diuridiae
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| subtribus = Thelymitrinae
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| genus = Thelymitra
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}}
 
{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
 
Thelymitra (Greek, woman and cap, alluding to the hood-shaped column). Orchidaceae. Terrestrial herbs with ovoid tubers, occasionally grown in the greenhouse. Lf. solitary, usually with a rather long sheath, linear, lanceolate or rarely nearly ovate: fls. usually several in a terminal raceme, sometimes reduced to 1 or 2, blue, purple, red, or yellow, occasionally with white varieties; sepals and petals nearly equal, spreading; labellum similar; column erect, broadly winged, the wings variable, sometimes extended into a broad lobed hood over the anther, lateral lobes often penicillate or crested: caps. erect, obovoid or oblong, beakless. About 30 species, Austral., New Zeal., New Caledonia, and Malaya. Cult. similar to that of bletia. None of the species is in common cult., but a number of them are of interest to orchid fanciers.
 
Thelymitra (Greek, woman and cap, alluding to the hood-shaped column). Orchidaceae. Terrestrial herbs with ovoid tubers, occasionally grown in the greenhouse. Lf. solitary, usually with a rather long sheath, linear, lanceolate or rarely nearly ovate: fls. usually several in a terminal raceme, sometimes reduced to 1 or 2, blue, purple, red, or yellow, occasionally with white varieties; sepals and petals nearly equal, spreading; labellum similar; column erect, broadly winged, the wings variable, sometimes extended into a broad lobed hood over the anther, lateral lobes often penicillate or crested: caps. erect, obovoid or oblong, beakless. About 30 species, Austral., New Zeal., New Caledonia, and Malaya. Cult. similar to that of bletia. None of the species is in common cult., but a number of them are of interest to orchid fanciers.
  
 
T. carnea, R. Br. St. slender, often flexuous, 6-12 in. high: lvs. narrow-linear: fls. 1-3, pink, sepals and petals oval-elliptic, oblong or obtuse, about 4 lines long. Austral.—T. ixioides, Sw. St. usually more than 1 ft. high: lvs. long-linear or linear-lanceolate, flat or channeled, with 1 or 2 shorter ones: fls. blue, pedicellate, usually forming a raceme 4-6 in. long: sepals, petals, and lip elliptic-oblong, 9-10 lines long. Austral.—T. longifolia, Forst. (T. Forsteri, Sw., T. graminea, Lindl. T. pauciflora, R. Br.). Usually about 1 ft. high: lvs. long and narrow: fls. blue, lilac, or pink, rather large, several to a raceme, column produced into a broad hood, usually conspicuous from its dark color. Austral.—T. variegata, Lindl. St. not very stout, 1 ft. or more high: lvs. with a villous sheath, blade linear, glabrous, with a much dilated base: fls. 2-4, purple, large; sepals and petals lanceolate, shortly acuminate or acute, 3/4 - 1 in. long, variegated. Austral.—T. venosa, R. Br. St. 1-2 ft. high: lvs. long and narrow: fls. blue, 6-10; sepals and petals 1/2 – 3/4 in. long; column broadly winged. Austral.
 
T. carnea, R. Br. St. slender, often flexuous, 6-12 in. high: lvs. narrow-linear: fls. 1-3, pink, sepals and petals oval-elliptic, oblong or obtuse, about 4 lines long. Austral.—T. ixioides, Sw. St. usually more than 1 ft. high: lvs. long-linear or linear-lanceolate, flat or channeled, with 1 or 2 shorter ones: fls. blue, pedicellate, usually forming a raceme 4-6 in. long: sepals, petals, and lip elliptic-oblong, 9-10 lines long. Austral.—T. longifolia, Forst. (T. Forsteri, Sw., T. graminea, Lindl. T. pauciflora, R. Br.). Usually about 1 ft. high: lvs. long and narrow: fls. blue, lilac, or pink, rather large, several to a raceme, column produced into a broad hood, usually conspicuous from its dark color. Austral.—T. variegata, Lindl. St. not very stout, 1 ft. or more high: lvs. with a villous sheath, blade linear, glabrous, with a much dilated base: fls. 2-4, purple, large; sepals and petals lanceolate, shortly acuminate or acute, 3/4 - 1 in. long, variegated. Austral.—T. venosa, R. Br. St. 1-2 ft. high: lvs. long and narrow: fls. blue, 6-10; sepals and petals 1/2 – 3/4 in. long; column broadly winged. Austral.
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{{SCH}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
{{Taxobox
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==Cultivation==
| color = lightgreen
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{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
| name = Sun Orchids
 
| image = Thelymitra rubra 220404.jpg
 
| image_width = 250px
 
| image_caption = Salmon Sun orchid (''Thelymitra rubra'')<br />clearly showing the mitra
 
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
 
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
 
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
 
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
 
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
 
| subfamilia = [[Orchidoideae]]
 
| tribus = Diuridiae
 
| subtribus = Thelymitrinae
 
| genus = '''''Thelymitra'''''
 
| genus_authority = J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., 1775
 
| type_species = ''Thelymitra longifolia''
 
| type_species_authority = J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Char. Gen. Pl.: 49 (1775).
 
| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
| subdivision =
 
See text.
 
}}
 
  
'''Thelymitra''' is a genus of [[orchid]]s known as 'sun orchids' in reference to their habit of only opening in warm weather. 
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===Propagation===
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
  
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===Pests and diseases===
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{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
  
== Description ==
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==Species==
They are about 100 species distributed in higher rainfall areas across [[Australia]] (with 50 or so species), [[New Zealand]] (10+ endemic species), [[New Caledonia]] (2), [[Timor]], [[Java (island)|Java]], and the [[Philippines]]. 
 
 
 
The [[type species]] is ''Thelymitra longifolia'' J.& G. Forst. 1775 from the South Island of New Zealand. The scientific name Thelymitra was given by  J. R. and G. Forster, [[botanist]]s on [[Captain Cook]]'s second voyage. The genus name is derived from the Greek words ''thely'' (woman) and ''mitra'' (mitre hat), referring to elaborate shape of the staminodal (staminode = sterile [[stamen]]) structure at the top of the [[column (botany)|column]], called a mitra.
 
 
 
These terrestrial orchids are only above ground during [[Spring (season)|spring]] and early [[summer]], usually with a single [[leaf]], growing up from two underground [[tuber]]s. It is elongated or linear-lanceolate and glabrous. The Custard Orchid (''T. villosa'') is the only species with a hairy leaf. The leaves of  ''T. spiralis'' and ''T. variegata'' are spirally twisted.
 
 
 
The [[flower]] stalk  is usually  a bluish-green colour.  The flower stem usually carries 4 to 10 flowers (even up to 20 flowers in the Plain Sun Orchid, ''T. holmesii''), often opening all at once, though some species have only one flower each year. The flower size is between 1 and 6 cm. These flowers only open in bright sunlight (in combination with warmth and humidity), close at night and during cold or cloudy weather.
 
 
 
Sun orchids exhibit a particular characteristic : their [[labellum|lip]] shows, except in a few species such as ''T. variegata'', almost the same shape, colour, colour pattern or size as the other petals and sepals. This gives a symmetrical shape to the [[tepal|perianth]]. Furthermore the lip lacks ornamentation. In other orchid genera, the lip has a distinctive shape and colour. The particular shape and color of the sun orchids mimics the flowers of lily family (Liliaceae) and the family Goodeniaceae, aiming by deceit for the same insect [[pollinator]]s. The Slender Sun Orchid (''T.pauciflora'') only opens for a short time (or not at all) and is self-pollinating. This self-pollination is a successful strategy followed by several other species such as and ''T. circumsepta'', ''T. graminea'', ''T. holmesii'' and ''T. mucida''.
 
 
 
Once the weather dries out the leaf shrivels away and the orchid lies as a single spherical tuber.
 
 
 
Sun orchids come in most colours, including purple, deep blue (''T. pauciflora''), white, pink, magenta, maroon, yellow (''T. antennifera'') and red (''T. x macmillanii'').  Most are a single colour or have spots, a few have stronger variation and are multi-coloured. The deep blue colour, found in about 75% of the sun orchids, is of a rare kind, found only in 5 other orchid genera.
 
 
 
Several species are considered by the [[IUCN]] as endangered (''T. epipactoides'') or critically endangered (''T. gregaria'', ''T. hiemalis'' and  ''T. x mackibbinii''. A number of conservation measures are underway in South Australia.
 
 
 
Until shortly, the taxonomy of the genus was outmoded and understudied. Jeffrey A Jeanes of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne has recently (2004) done a taxonomic revision, resolved several species complexes and described a considerable number of new species (see ''Muelleria'' 19; 2004)
 
 
 
 
[[Image:Thelymitra.PLateI.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Several Thelymitra species :2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9]]
 
[[Image:Thelymitra.PLateI.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Several Thelymitra species :2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9]]
==Species==
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Species{{wp}}:
 
* ''[[Thelymitra aemula]]'' Cheeseman 1919  
 
* ''[[Thelymitra aemula]]'' Cheeseman 1919  
 
* ''[[Thelymitra aggericola]]'' D.L.Jones 1999  
 
* ''[[Thelymitra aggericola]]'' D.L.Jones 1999  
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* x''Calomitra'' (''Calochilus'' x ''Thelymitra'') (unplaced name)
 
* x''Calomitra'' (''Calochilus'' x ''Thelymitra'') (unplaced name)
  
==Cultivation==
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==Gallery==
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
  
Thelymitras can be grown in a freely draining, dense mixture with partially composted organic matter. A suitable mixture is an equal mix of 7 mm road screenings, year old composted wood chips and commercial potting mix. It is good practice to cover the surface in pine or she-oak needles to control water loss and to feed the mychorizal fungi that support the orchid.
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<gallery>
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
Due to the flowers only opening in warm weather, it is common practice for showing them, to use a bank of strong incandescent lights to simulate the warm sun.
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==References==
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
  
Some work has gone into growing hybrids for better growing and more colour.  The most popular hybrid is probably Th. x "Kay Nesbitt" with its strongly coloured red-ish pink flowers.
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
  
== References ==
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{{stub}}
*{{cite journal | author = Pamela Burns-Balogh and Peter Bernhardt | title = Floral evolution and phylogeny in the tribeThelymitreae (Orchidaceae: Neottioideae)| journal =  Plant Systematics and Evolution| volume = 159| year = 1988}}
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[[Category:Categorize]]
*{{cite journal | author = Breiner, E. and Breiner, R. | title =  ''Thelymitra, die sun orchids: eine bemerkenswerte Orchideen-Gattung aus Australien.'' | journal = Orchidee | volume = 54 | issue = 3 | pages = 350-351 | year = 2003}} (in German)
 
* {{cite journal | author = Jeans, J. A. | title = A revision of the Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. (Orchidaceae) complex in Australia | journal = Muelleria  | volume = 19 | pages = 19-79 | year = 2004}}
 
  
[[Category:Orchids of Australia]]
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<!--  in order to add all the proper categories, go to http://www.plants.am/wiki/Plant_Categories and copy/paste the contents of the page here, and then follow the easy instructions!    -->
[[Category:Orchid genera]]
 
[[Category:Orchids of New Zealand]]
 

Revision as of 05:40, 21 August 2009


Salmon Sun orchid (Thelymitra rubra)


Plant Characteristics
Origin: ?
Cultivation
Exposure: ?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: ?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Scientific Names

Orchidaceae >

Thelymitra >



Read about Thelymitra in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Thelymitra (Greek, woman and cap, alluding to the hood-shaped column). Orchidaceae. Terrestrial herbs with ovoid tubers, occasionally grown in the greenhouse. Lf. solitary, usually with a rather long sheath, linear, lanceolate or rarely nearly ovate: fls. usually several in a terminal raceme, sometimes reduced to 1 or 2, blue, purple, red, or yellow, occasionally with white varieties; sepals and petals nearly equal, spreading; labellum similar; column erect, broadly winged, the wings variable, sometimes extended into a broad lobed hood over the anther, lateral lobes often penicillate or crested: caps. erect, obovoid or oblong, beakless. About 30 species, Austral., New Zeal., New Caledonia, and Malaya. Cult. similar to that of bletia. None of the species is in common cult., but a number of them are of interest to orchid fanciers.

T. carnea, R. Br. St. slender, often flexuous, 6-12 in. high: lvs. narrow-linear: fls. 1-3, pink, sepals and petals oval-elliptic, oblong or obtuse, about 4 lines long. Austral.—T. ixioides, Sw. St. usually more than 1 ft. high: lvs. long-linear or linear-lanceolate, flat or channeled, with 1 or 2 shorter ones: fls. blue, pedicellate, usually forming a raceme 4-6 in. long: sepals, petals, and lip elliptic-oblong, 9-10 lines long. Austral.—T. longifolia, Forst. (T. Forsteri, Sw., T. graminea, Lindl. T. pauciflora, R. Br.). Usually about 1 ft. high: lvs. long and narrow: fls. blue, lilac, or pink, rather large, several to a raceme, column produced into a broad hood, usually conspicuous from its dark color. Austral.—T. variegata, Lindl. St. not very stout, 1 ft. or more high: lvs. with a villous sheath, blade linear, glabrous, with a much dilated base: fls. 2-4, purple, large; sepals and petals lanceolate, shortly acuminate or acute, 3/4 - 1 in. long, variegated. Austral.—T. venosa, R. Br. St. 1-2 ft. high: lvs. long and narrow: fls. blue, 6-10; sepals and petals 1/2 – 3/4 in. long; column broadly winged. Austral. CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

Do you have pest and disease info on this plant? Edit this section!

Species

Several Thelymitra species :2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9

Specieswp:

Natural hybrids

  • Thelymitra × chasmogama R.S.Rogers 1927 (T. luteocilium × T. nuda)
  • Thelymitra × mackibbinii F.Muell. 1881 (T. × macmillanii × T. nuda)
  • Thelymitra × macmillanii F.Muell. 1865 (T. antennifera × T. luteocilium)
  • Thelymitra × truncata R.S.Rogers 1917


Intergeneric hybrid

  • xCalomitra (Calochilus x Thelymitra) (unplaced name)

Gallery

If you have a photo of this plant, please upload it! Plus, there may be other photos available for you to add.

References

External links