''Thelymitra crenulata'' is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to a small area of South Australia. It has a single, fleshy linear leaf and up to seven deep blue flowers with darker lines. It was only discovered in 2003, but is sometimes common in its range near Mount Gambier after wet weather in spring.

Description

''Thelymitra crenulata'' is a tuberous, perennial

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

with a single erect, fleshy, channelled, linear leaf long and wide with a purplish base. Up to seven deep blue flowers with darker veins, wide are borne on a flowering stem tall. The sepals and

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s are long and wide. The

column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...

is blue, about long and wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is tube-shaped, curved forwards and dark brown with a yellow tip. The side lobes curve sharply upwards and have mop-like tufts of white hairs on their ends. The flowers open for only a short period on warm, sunny days. Flowering occurs between late October and mid-November but often for only a week. Flowering is more prolific after a wet spring.

Taxonomy and naming

''Thelymitra crenulata'' was first formally described in 2010 by Robert Bates from a specimen he collected near Glencoe in 2003. The description was published in the '' Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden''. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''crenulata'') is a Latin word meaning "minutely

crenate A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...

, referring to the crinkled anther lobe.

Distribution and habitat

''Thelymitra crenulata'' grows in disturbed areas such as firebreaks and tracks in heath near waterholes. It is only known from near Mount Gambier.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q21312045 crenulata Endemic orchids of Australia Orchids of South Australia Plants described in 2010