Thelymitra petrophila
Thelymitra petrophila, commonly known as granite sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single erect, channelled, long light green leaf and up to ten or more pale blue to mauve or pink flowers. It grows in drier area, usually in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops.
Description
Thelymitra petrophila is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, leathery, channelled, glaucous, light green linear to lance-shaped leaf long, wide. Between two and ten or more pale blue to mauve or pink flowers wide are arranged on a flowering stem tall. The sepals and petals are long and wide. The column is white to pale blue or pale pink, long and wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is brown to reddish or yellow with an inflated tube shape and wavy edges. The side lobes have toothbrush-like tufts of white hairs. Flowering occurs from August to November.
Taxonomy and naming
Thelymitra petrophila was first formally described in 2013 by Jeff Jeanes and the description was published in Muelleria from a specimen collected near Menzies. The specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek πέτρα meaning "rock" or "stone" and φίλος meaning "dear" or "beloved" referring to the habitat preference of this species.
Distribution and habitat
Granite sun orchid grows in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops. It is found in the drier parts of Western Australia, including the Great Victoria Desert.