Thelymitra cyanea
Veined sun-orchid
Erect perennial herb with fleshy egg-shaped tubers. Plants form colonies. Flowers open readily on warm days.
Additional information
- SynonymThelymitra venosa
- FamilyOrchidaceae
- StoreyLower storey
- Sizeto 50 cm high.
- Plant groupingOrchids
- LeavesErect single narrow, channelled, fleshy dark green leaf, to 25 cm x 7 mm, sheathing at base of stem; several sheathing stem bracts.
- Flower colourDark blue to purplish with darker veins
- Flowering timeDecember to January
- Flowers1-6 flowers to 30 mm across. Sepals and petals egg-shaped. Column pink, blue or white with a dark collar and yellow tip; mid lobe pointed; column arms short, reddish at base.
- Bird attractingNo
- Butterfly attractingNo
- Frog habitatNo
- Growing conditionsMoist but not waterlogged soils around swamps and sphagnum bogs in sub-alpine grasslands. Full sun to semi shade. An uncommon species in Victoria, occurring just within the Shire.
- Garden useUse of orchids in gardens is not recommended, unless they already occur naturally, in which case they need to be protected. Removing orchids from the bush usually results in their death and further depletes remaining wild orchid populations.
- Commercially availableRarely
- Conservation statusSignificant within the Shire. Known from very few local sites. May be locally common in these areas.
- Aboriginal Use Food - tuber
Photo Gallery
Photographer/s: 1 Geoff Lay, Royal Botanic Gardens Board ©; 2 Cathy Powers ©; 3 C&M Rowan, RetiredAussies ©; 4 Russell Best, NatureShare©
Plant Communities