Thelymitra media|Tall Sun-orchid
Cardinia indigenous plant guide
- Description
-
Perennial herb with fleshy egg-shaped tubers. Plants form massed displays in favorable conditions.
- Size (W x H)
-
Up to 0.9m in height
- Leaves
-
Erect single thick, lance-shaped, channelled, fleshy leaf, often brownish base, to 40cm x 20mm, sheathing at base of stem; 2-3 sheathing stem bracts.
- Flowers
-
Dense spike of 2-30 flowers to 30mm across. Column white with blackish collar, below yellow tip; low yellow mid lobe with warts (calli) at back, 2 columns on sides; column arms long with dense terminal tuft of white hairs.
- Flower colour
-
Blue with fine darker stripes
- Flower time
-
October to November
- Growing conditions
-
Moist heavy mountain soils, tolerating moist clay soils, in open and closed forests, often on disturbed sites. Full sun, semi shade. Flowers only open on very hot days. Flowers prolifically after fires.
- Commonly used for
-
Use 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.
- Photo gallery
-
- Acknowledgement
-
Thank you to Shire of Yarra Ranges for assistance in compiling this directory
