Thelymitra tigrina

Thelymitra tigrina, commonly called the tiger orchid[2] or tiger sun orchid,[3] is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single narrow leaf and up to fifteen small yellow flowers with small brown spots.

Tiger orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Thelymitra
Species:
T. tigrina
Binomial name
Thelymitra tigrina

Description

Thelymitra tigrina is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single leaf 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. Between two and fifteen yellow, cup-shaped flowers with many dark brown spots, 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 150–700 mm (6–30 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The column is a similar colour to the sepals and petals, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and has short, white, pimply arms on the sides. The lobe on top of the anther is short and covered with small bumps. The flowers are self-pollinated and open on hot, sunny days. Flowering occurs from November to January.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

Thelymitra tigrina was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[6][7] The specific epithet (tigrina) is a Latin word meaning "of tigers",[8] referring to the colour of the flowers.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The tiger orchid grows in dense scrub in near-coastal, winter-wet scrub. It is found between Perth and Albany with a disjunct population near Esperance.[3][2][4][5][9]

Conservation

Thelymitra tigrina is classified as "not threatened" in Western Australia by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[9]

References
  1. "Thelymitra tigrina". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 438. ISBN 9780980296457.
  3. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 256. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 297. ISBN 9780646562322.
  5. Archer, William. "Tiger orchid - Thelymitra tigrina". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  6. "Thelymitra tigrina". APNI. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  7. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 315. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 189.
  9. "Thelymitra tigrina". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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