Thelymitra pulcherrima

Thelymitra pulcherrima Jeanes

Thelymitra aff. variegata

Northern Queen of Sheba

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

Jeffrey Jeanes in Muelleria 27:168-169, Figs. 9, 12d-f (2009)

Eneabba to Joondalup, growing in sandy and gravelly soils in shrublands.

· · · · · Jun Jul Aug Sep · · ·

A colourful species 150–350 mm high with a narrow, smooth leaf 40–70 mm long by 5–10 mm wide at its widest point and up to five pink, mauve, purple and yellow, prominently blotched flowers 25 to 35 mm across.

It is distinguished from the related Queen of Sheba (Thelymitra variegata) by its more contrastingly coloured petals and sepals, usually earlier flowering period and more northerly distribution.

Priority Two