Thelymitra porphyrosticta

Thelymitra porphyrosticta F.Muell.

Thelymitra sp. 'south coast'

Southern Queen of Sheba

Thelymitra spiralis/variegata (Lobed Sun Orchids, the Queens)

Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragm. 5:97-98 (1865)

Mount Lindesay to Waychinicup, growing in sandy soils in shrublands and woodlands. Plants of what may be this species have been found in the Stirling Ranges but further research is required to ascertain if this is the case.

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An attractive species 100–350 mm high with a narrow, smooth leaf 40–90 mm long by 4–9 mm wide at its widest point and up to five purple, mauve, orange and golden-yellow flowers 30–50 mm across.

It is distinguished from the related Queen of Sheba (Thelymitra variegata) by its more colourful flowers with often contrastingly coloured petals and sepals and its more southerly and easterly distribution. The flower colouration is similar to that of Eastern Queen of Sheba (T. speciosa) but unlike that species which has one or two flowers it has up to five flowers.

Priority Two