eastern Queen of Sheba

Thelymitra speciosa is a tuberous, perennial herb with an erect, dark green leaf which is egg-shaped near its purplish base, then suddenly narrows to a linear, channelled, spiral leaf 30–70 mm (1–3 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. One or two glossy, purplish flowers with broad reddish edges and yellowish margins, 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 100–200 mm (4–8 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The column is purplish, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide with a cluster of small finger-like glands on its back. There are two bright yellow or orange ear-like arms on the sides of the column. The flowers are insect pollinated and open widely on hot days. Flowering occurs in August and September.

Eastern Queen of Sheba grows with dense shrubs in winter-wet areas between the Stirling Ranges and Lake Grace in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions.