Leopard sun orchid

Appearance

''Thelymitra benthamiana'' is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single flat, lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaf 50–150 mm long and 20–35 mm wide. Between two and ten greenish yellow flowers with brownish spots, blotches and patterns, 30–40 mm wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–400 mm tall. The sepals and petals are 15–20 mm long and 6–10 mm wide with the labellum usually narrower than the other petals and sepals. The column is yellow or greenish, 6–8 mm long and 3–4 mm wide with broad, fringed wings. The lobe on the top of the anther club-like lump on its summit. Flowering occurs from September to December but flowering is more prolific after fire the previous summer.

Naming

''Thelymitra benthamiana'' was first formally described in 1871 by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach and the description was published in ''Beitrage zur Systematischen Pflanzenkunde''. The specific epithet honours George Bentham.

Distribution

The leopard sun orchid is widespread and common, growing in heath and forest. In Western Australia it often grows around the edges of granite outcrops. It is found in Western Australia between Geraldton and Israelite Bay, in southern and western Victoria, in south-eastern South Australia and on Flinders Island in Tasmania.

Status

''Thelymitra benthamiana'' is classified as "not threatened" in Western Australia by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Habitat

The leopard sun orchid is widespread and common, growing in heath and forest. In Western Australia it often grows around the edges of granite outcrops. It is found in Western Australia between Geraldton and Israelite Bay, in southern and western Victoria, in south-eastern South Australia and on Flinders Island in Tasmania.