Thelymitra "Ahipara"
Sun Orchid

PLANT: Terrestrial tuberous herb.
Up to 40cm tall when in flower. Stem pale purple with green bracts. A self pollinating species. Similar to a dull T "Darkie"

LEAVES: Single. Bright green, fleshy, a flattened V similar to an ixia leaf.

FLOWERS: Up to 5 flowers.
1 - 1.5 cm across. Pale blue or mauve in colour. Flowers almost never open, the buds expand a little, then wither as the seed sets. Column white to pale mauve. Midlobe yellow above an area of brown and a line of indigo. Cilia sparse and coarse.

FLOWERING TIME: October - November.

HABITAT: Thrives in black swamp ooze and peatbog pools.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Threatened - Nationally Critical.

NOTES: Recorded from near Ahipara and around Rangaunu Harbour in the Far North, and possibly from Auckland's North Shore.