Thelymitra tigrina
Thelymitra tigrina, commonly called tiger orchid or tiger sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single narrow leaf and up to fifteen small yellow flowers with small brown spots.
Description
Thelymitra tigrina is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single leaf long and wide. Between two and fifteen yellow, cup-shaped flowers with many dark brown spots, wide are borne on a flowering stem tall. The sepals and petals are long and wide. The column is a similar colour to the sepals and petals, long, about wide and has short, white, pimply arms on the sides. The lobe on top of the anther is short and covered with small bumps. The flowers are self-pollinated and open on hot, sunny days. Flowering occurs from November to January.
Taxonomy and naming
Thelymitra tigrina was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. The specific epithet is a Latin word meaning "of tigers", referring to the colour of the flowers.
Distribution and habitat
Tiger orchid grows in dense scrub in near-coastal, winter-wet scrub. It is found between Perth and Albany with a disjunct population near Esperance.
Conservation
Thelymitra tigrina is classified as "not threatened" in Western Australia by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.