Kingdom Plantae Family Orchidaceae Tribe Diurideae Scientific name Thelymitra rubra | Order Asparagales Subfamily Orchidoideae Subtribe Thelymitrinae Rank Species | |
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Similar Thelymitra pauciflora, Thelymitra antennifera, Thelymitra ixioides, Glossodia major, Thelymitra | ||
Thelymitra rubra, commonly called the salmon sun orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to southeastern Australia.
A slender species, about 1 foot high. Leaf linear, hardly 5 inches. Bracts very narrow, stems clasping. Flowers one or two, bright red. Petals and sepals ovate-acute, about 5 lines. Column about 3 lines, produced above and behind the anther, but not hooded, slightly denticulate between the lateral appendages. Lateral appendages lanceolate, produced horizontally beyond the anther almost to a point, not ciliate, but covered on both sides densely with rugose glands. Anther obtuse, continuing to enclose the pollen masses behind the stigma, but produced over it. (This species is closely related to T. carnea, but the flowers are much larger and of a brighter colour. It opens constantly, is evidently not so absolutely self-fertilising, and is easily distinguished by the large and rugose lateral appendages of the column.) South Australia.