spotted sun-orchid

Thelymitra nervosa is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single channelled leaf 60–200 mm (2–8 in) or more long and 8–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) wide. Up to ten pale to dark blue, mauve, sometimes pink or white flowers usually with dark blue spots, up to 18 mm (0.7 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem sometimes up to 600 mm (20 in) tall. The column is pale pink at its base, dark purple near the top and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The arms on the sides of the column have dense tufts of white hairs. The lobe on top of the anther is dark purple, curves forwards and has a yellow, horseshoe shaped top. Flowering occurs from October to February. It is distinguished from other New Zealand Thelymitra by the rounded and cupped flower segments, the spotted (rather than striped) petals, the column arms with copious white cilia, and the horse-shoe shaped, yellow post-anther lobe. It is most similar to Thelymitra ixioides, which is one of its parent species.

Spotted sun orchid grows in sunny places in forest, scrub and grassland. It is found on the North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands.

New Zealand Thelymitra species are all capable of self-pollination, which makes up the majority of fruit production. No species in the genus provides rewards to pollinators, like nectar or edible pollen. Instead, they rely on mimicry of other brightly-coloured flowering plants to attract their pollinators. In New Zealand, Thelymitra are pollinated by native bees in the genus Leioproctus. Thelymitra nervosa also reproduces through cloning via bulbs.

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