Rabbit-eared sun orchid
Thelymitra antennifera in the Stirling Range National Park.
Scientific classification Edit this 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
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.

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–

Use in horticulture

Thelymitra species are readily cultivated in pots.[16]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thelymitra antennifera.
Wikispecies has information related to Thelymitra antennifera.
  1. 1 2 "Thelymitra antennifera". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera L.f." FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. 1 2 "Thelymitra antennifera - rabbit ears; Tasmanian threatened species listing statement". Tasmanian threatened species section—Department of primary industries, parks, water and environment. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  4. ↑ D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Thelymitra". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  5. 1 2 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.
  7. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f." Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  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. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra gregaria D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra luteocilium D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra macrophylla D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra maculata D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  15. ↑ "Thelymitra antennifera (Lindl.) Hook.f. x Thelymitra vulgaris D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.". APNI. 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.
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