About Thelymitra media R.Br.
Thelymitra media R.Br., commonly known as the tall sun orchid, is a tuberous perennial herb. It produces a single fleshy, channelled, dark green leaf that is linear to lance-shaped, measuring 200–300 mm (8–10 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide, with a purplish base. Between one and thirty pale to dark blue flowers with darker streaks, each 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide, grow on a flowering stem that ranges from 300–1,000 mm (10–40 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 12–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide, and the labellum is the narrowest of these structures. The flower's column is white or bluish, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide. The lobe on top of the anther is short, with a dark collar, yellow tip, and a few short, finger-like glands on its back. The side lobes project forwards, and have white, mop-like tufts at their ends. The flowers of this species are insect-pollinated, and only open on warm sunny days. Flowering occurs between October and January. This sun orchid is similar in appearance to Thelymitra ixioides, but is larger and bears unspotted flowers. This species grows in heath, shrubby woodland and forest, as well as high rainfall forest, at altitudes between 10 m (33 ft) and 1,200 m (3,937 ft). It occurs on the coast, mountain ranges and inland slopes of New South Wales south from the Blue Mountains, and extends into eastern Victoria.
