About Thelymitra cyanea (Lindl.) Benth.
Thelymitra cyanea is a tuberous, perennial herb that produces a single erect, fleshy, channelled, linear leaf. The leaf measures 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. Between one and five bright blue flowers with darker veins, each 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide, are borne on a flowering stem 200–400 mm (8–20 in) tall. There are usually two bracts on the flowering stem. The sepals and petals are 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide, while the labellum, the lowest petal, is larger than the other petals and sepals. The column is white to pale blue, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and about 3 mm (0.12 in) wide. The side arms of the column are yellow, with a twisted or toothed tip. The flowers are often self-pollinating and only open on warm sunny days. Flowering occurs from November to March. This species is widespread and often common across many parts of south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. It grows in damp to wet boggy places, mainly in montane and subalpine habitats. In New Zealand, it is widespread on the North, South and Chatham Islands. In Australia, it occurs on the tablelands south from Ebor in New South Wales, in south-eastern Victoria, in Tasmania, and is restricted to the area near Mount Compass in South Australia.
