Nature conservation

Threatened species

Thelymitra epipactoides - profile

Indicative distribution


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Key:
known
predicted
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Thelymitra epipactoides
Conservation status in NSW: Extinct
Commonwealth status: Endangered
Profile last updated: 07 Sep 2017

Description

Thelymitra epipactoides, also known as the Metallic Sun-orchid, is a robust herb 6-60 cm high. It has a fleshy, thick, egg-shaped creamy white roots underneath a ring of roots at about 40 mm below the soil surface.
The leaf is long, fleshy and lance-shaped, and grows up to 40 cm long. The leaf is loosely sheathing and forms a tube at the base. Mature non-flowering plants have slightly narrower leaves to 51 cm long and not sheathing, while immature plants produce a linear leaf which is at an acute angle to the ground and up to 34 cm long.

There are 5-20 flowers per cluster, and each flower is 20-25 mm in diameter.

The flowers colour is highly variable with brown, copper, blue and green the main colour groups, with infusions of red, blue or green cells, giving a bronzy or metallic appearance. The sepals are larger and firmer than the petals.

A sweet perfume is associated with the opened flowers, which only open on low humidity, sunny days.

Distribution

Thelymitra epipactoides is currently found in south-eastern South Australia and western Victoria.

Habitat and ecology

  • The orchid is confined to a range of heathland communities usually near the coast. It is primarily located in sandy duplex soils which are waterlogged in winter and in which the pH varies between 5.6 and 7.5.
  • The Metallic Sun-orchid is deciduous, dying back to below-ground tubers in summer. If conditions are right, the orchid will re-emerge each year signalled by the growth of a new leaf.
  • Leaves can be seen as early as April and continue to grow throughout winter. Flowering occurs from August through to November, and fruits mature from December to January.


Threats

Recovery strategies

Activities to assist this species

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region
Other StateSA Known None