Thelymitra antennifera

Short description: Species of orchid

Rabbit-eared sun orchid

Thelymitra antennifera in the Stirling Range National Park.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Plantae
Clade:  | Tracheophytes
Clade:  | Angiosperms
Clade:  | Monocots
Order:  | Asparagales
Family:  | Orchidaceae
Subfamily:  | Orchidoideae
Tribe:  | Diurideae
Genus:  | Thelymitra
Species:  |

T. antennifera

Binomial name
Thelymitra antennifera

(Lind.)Hook.f.[1]

Synonyms[1]

Macdonaldia antennifera Lindl.

Thelymitra antennifera, commonly called the rabbit-eared sun orchid, lemon-scented sun orchid or vanilla orchid is a species of orchid which is native to Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria and northern parts of Tasmania.

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Distribution and habitat
* 3 Taxonomy and naming
* 4 Use in horticulture
* 5 References

## Description

Thelymitra antennifera is a tuberous, perennial herb, 10–25 cm tall with yellow flowers from July to October.[2] Its leaf is circular in cross-section, 5 to 12 cm long and 2 to 3 mm wide. The inflorescence consists of one to four yellow flowers on a wiry, zig-zagged often pinkish stem. Each flower is 20 to 40 mm across with a lemon or vanilla scent. The sepals and petals are 12 to 20 mm long and 4 to 6 mm wide, the sepals having a broad, reddish-brown band on their outer surface. The column is 5 to 6 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide with dark brown arms that are ear-like and held high above the column.[3] As with others in the genus, it reproduces by seeds but is unusual in that it is one of the few that develops tubers on the end of stolon-like roots, allowing it to form new colonies.[4] The flowers are insect pollinated and open readily, even on cool days and are long-lasting.[5]

## Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in the South-West and Eremaean botanical provinces of Western Australia. It is also found South Australia and Victoria. In Tasmania it only occurs in a few small areas and is classified as an endangered species in that state.[3] Elsewhere it is widespread and common, growing in many habitats, especially shrub, heath and mallee. It sometimes forms dense, extensive colonies, flowering freely, especially after fire.[5]

## Taxonomy and naming

The species was first described by John Lindley in 1840 in his A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony (1840) as Macdonaldia antennifera.[6] but was later renamed Thelymitra antennifera by the English botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker in The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae[7] The specific epithet (antennifera) is from the Latin antenna, (classically "a sail yard"), and -fer meaning "-bearing", referring to the lateral appendages on the column.[8][9] The genus name Macdonaldia, honours "Mrs. Smith, née Macdonald, a lady who has examined the Orchidaceous plants of that island with great care, and from whom a most beautiful series of dried specimens has reached me through the offices of Mr. Gunn".[10]

Five hybrids are recognised-

* Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra gregaria D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.[11]
* Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra luteocilium Fitzg.[12]
* Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra macrophylla Lindl. crimson sun orchid[13]
* Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra maculata Jeanes western wheatbelt sun orchid[14]
* Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra vulgaris Jeanes scarce sun orchid[15]

## Use in horticulture

Thelymitra species are readily cultivated in pots.[16]

## References

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thelymitra antennifera.

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Thelymitra antennifera". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://wcsp.science.kew.org/namedetail.do?name_id=203713.
2. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera L.f.". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1701.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Thelymitra antennifera \- rabbit ears; Tasmanian threatened species listing statement". Tasmanian threatened species section--Department of primary industries, parks, water and environment. https://www.naturalvaluesatlas.tas.gov.au/downloadattachment?id=14590. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
4. ↑ "Thelymitra". Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. 2010. http://www.canbr.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/RFKOrchids/key/rfkorchids/Media/Html/genera/Thelymitra.htm.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 246–247. ISBN 9781877069123.
6. ↑ "Macdonaldia antennifera Lindl.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=2640.
7. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=42872.
8. ↑ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 131. ISBN 9780958034180.
9. ↑ Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Garry (2013). Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 436. ISBN 9780980348149.
10. ↑ Lindley, John (1840). A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony. London: James, Ridgway. p. l. https://archive.org/details/sketchvegetatio00goog/page/n58. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
11. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra gregaria D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/595044. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
12. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra luteocilium D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/595045. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
13. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra macrophylla D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/787009. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
14. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra maculata D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/787010. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
15. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra vulgaris D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/787011. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
16. ↑ Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 494. ISBN 0002165759.

Wikidata ☰ Q10946630 entry

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