Australia So Much to See
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Sources used for identification of wildflowers shown on these pages and regions where they occur see Credits
These pages will
feature some of the wildflowers we have photographed in Western Australia, and where possible, identified. If you
are able to help identify further flowers, or correct any I may have wrong, please contact us.
Information given for each species
will give botanical name, known common names, describe the flower, give time of year it flowered, and where it was photographed, and
the areas it occurs in. Names have been matched to Florabase which has also been used to show distribution.
To see
more Western Australian Wildflowers, see WA Now and Then Wildflower Gallery
See some of these wildflower
in larger sized photos on our Flickr pages.
Thelymitra fuscolutea Chestnut Sun Orchid, Leopard Orchid (although Thelymitra benthamiana is more commonly called Leopard Orchid)
Several
six petalled yellow with chestnut brown coloured spots or patterns often almost covering the petals, flowers along
upright stem from a strap leaf at the base plus a small elongated leaf a short way up the stem. The frill below the
tip of column appears white and column tip pointed.
December
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and can be found around the coastline from Lancelin to Bremer Bay and in a few isolated inland locations in the South West region
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and can be found around the coastline from Lancelin to Bremer Bay and in a few isolated inland locations in the South West region
Thelymitra crinita Blue Lady Orchid, Queen Orchid, Lily Orchid (usually applied to the pale variation), Walyamur.
Blue orchid, several six petalled flowers along upright stem which comes from a single broad leaf which cups the stem and is often reddish at the base. Flower has purple tufts in flower centre, with a speckled appearance on the post anther lobe (column apex or cap) which is an almost closed circle, no discernible scent. Lower petal, which is actually the labellum, is narrower than the other five petals.
Blue orchid, several six petalled flowers along upright stem which comes from a single broad leaf which cups the stem and is often reddish at the base. Flower has purple tufts in flower centre, with a speckled appearance on the post anther lobe (column apex or cap) which is an almost closed circle, no discernible scent. Lower petal, which is actually the labellum, is narrower than the other five petals.
The variation below has pink buds and sepals, a pink tassel, and pale lilac petals.
October November
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and found in the Perth region and further east and north into the Wheatbelt, through the South West and along the south coast including Albany and Esperance
October November
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and found in the Perth region and further east and north into the Wheatbelt, through the South West and along the south coast including Albany and Esperance
Thecanthes sanguinea, formerly known as Pimelea, has been returned to the Pimelea genus. See P.
Thelymitra macrophylla, Scented Sun Orchids, can be seen on the next page in various shades of blue, lilac and mauve and pink.
Thelymitra benthamiana, Leopard Orchid, Blotched Sun Orchid
Several six petalled yellow with chestnut brown coloured
spots which can vary from almost covering the petals to few or none, flowers along upright stem from a wise leaf
cupping the stem at the base plus a small elongated pointed leaf a short way up the stem. The frill below the
tip of column appears yellow and the column tip smooth and rounded.
November
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and can be found through the Great Southern, South West, Perth, and Wheatbelt regions, and along the south coast to Esperance
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and can be found through the Great Southern, South West, Perth, and Wheatbelt regions, and along the south coast to Esperance
Thelymitra graminea, Shy Sun Orchid
Several six petalled blue or purple sun orchid on a short to medium stem.
Ususally only one, two or three flowers per plant. Leave is slender. Flowers around 1.5 to 2 centimetres across, being
smaller than Thelymitra macrophylla.
October
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and can be found through the Great Southern, South West, and Perth regions, into the Wheatbelt region, and along the south coast to Esperance
Bridgetown, South West Region, Western Australia and can be found through the Great Southern, South West, and Perth regions, into the Wheatbelt region, and along the south coast to Esperance
F
Thelymitra antennifera, Lemon Scented Sun Orchid, Vanilla Orchid, also called Rabbit Eared Sun Orchid, Rabbit Ears, Rabbit’s Ears,
Lemon Orchid, Antenna Thelymitra, Canary Orchid.
A relatively small sun orchid with several six petalled yellow flowers of around two
centimetres diameter on a short upright stem. There are two rusty brown protrusions at the top of the column, giving rise to
the name from its resemblance to antennae, or the common name of Rabbit Eared. With Sun Orchids, the lower petal is actually
the labellum. The leaf is a long narrow needle-like leaf.
August, September
Mayanup (Boyup Brook Shire), South West Region, Western
Australia and can be found through the Mid West, Wheatbelt, South West, Great Southern and Goldfields regions.
Thelymitra. Various species are known as Joobuk in the Noongar Aboriginal language.