About Thelymitra aemula Cheeseman
Thelymitra aemula, commonly called the gumland sun orchid, is a tuberous, perennial herb. It produces a single erect, dark green leaf that is linear to lance-shaped, measuring 80–260 mm (3–10 in) long and 3.5–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide. Between three and ten, sometimes twenty or more pale mauve to dark sky blue flowers, each 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) wide, grow on a flowering stem that can reach up to 800 mm (30 in) tall. The central column of the flower is white near its base, and mauve to violet with a brown band close to the top. The lobe on the top of the anther is yellow, while the side lobes have dense, brush-like white hairs. Flowering takes place from November to February. This orchid grows in sparsely vegetated areas in small colonies, found between Waikato and the northern tip of New Zealand's North Island.
