Thelymitra × truncata
Thelymitra × truncata, commonly called the truncate sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single tapering, more or less flat leaf with a reddish base and up to six blue, pink or white flowers with a tube-shaped lobe on top of the anther. It is a natural hybrid between a range of species, including T. pauciflora and T. ixioides. Description Thelymitra × truncata is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single more or less flat or channelled, tapering linear to lance-shaped leaf long and wide with a reddish base. Up to six or more pale to deep blue, pinkish or sometimes white flowers wide are arranged on a flowering stem tall. There are one or two bracts along the flowering stem. The sepals and petals are long. The column is a similar colour to the petals and long. The lobe on top of the anther is tube-shaped with a dark collar and a yellow tip. The side lobes have mop-like tufts of white hairs on their ends. Flowering occurs from October to December. The plants are variable, due to crossing between a range of species to produce this hybrid. Taxonomy and