Species

Thelymitra sanscilia

Etymology

Thelymitra: woman's hat

Common Name(s)

Sun Orchid

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Threatened - Nationally Critical
2004 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Qualifiers

2012 - DP, EF, Sp
2009 - DP, EF, Sp

Authority

Thelymitra sanscilia Irwin ex Hatch

Family

Orchidaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Orchids

Synonyms

None. However, Flora II (Moore & Edgar 1970) regarded it as a sporadically occurring mutation of T. pauciflora.

Distribution

Endemic, North Island, where it is apparently confined to Northland.

Habitat

Open gum-land scrub and in open ground in association with kanuka (Kunzea ericoides var. linearis (Kirk) W.Harris) woodland.

Features

Plant at flowering 100-400 mm tall. Leaf solitary, 100-300 x 10-15 mm, fleshy, strap-like, dark green or red-green, "v" shaped in cross-section. Inflorescence a slender spike-like raceme arising from leaf, 100-600 mm tall. Flowers (1-)3(-10), opening one at a time (if at all), and only on very still sunny days. Perianth 8-12 mm long, usually mauve, occasionally white, without stripes or spots. Sepals, petals and labellum similar, broadly ellliptic, narrowing abruptly to an acute tip. Central column white, with a brown band near apex. Column apex hooded, usually deeply cleft. Column-arms falcate, erect usually without, or occasionally possessing 1 or 2 prominent hairs. Post anther lobe overtopping anther, brown above middle and yellow on margin, inrolled as to appear deeply cleft, the 2-halves meeting aling a midline anove the anther.

Similar Taxa

Most closely allied to the New Zealand forms of T. pauciflora R.Br. from which it chiefly differs by the near absence of hairs on the column arms of the flower.

Flowering

September - October

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,White

Fruiting

December - January

Propagation Technique

Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

Known from a handful of sites from Te Paki to Pipiwai near Whangarei. Not common at any particular location.

Chromosome No.

2n = 26

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

As far as is known this species is not in cultivation.

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2007. Description subsequently published in Rolfe & de Lange (2010).

References and further reading

Rolfe, J.R.; de Lange, P.J. 2010: Illustrated guide to New Zealand sun orchids, Thelymitra (Orchidaceae). Jeremy Rolfe, Wellington.

This page last updated on 17 Apr 2014