About Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br.
Thelymitra pauciflora R.Br. is a terrestrial, tuberous herb that reaches up to 60 centimeters in height when flowering. It produces a single erect, fleshy leaf that measures up to 30 cm long and 6 mm wide, with ribbing on the outer surface and a channel on the inner surface. The leaf is tinted purple, especially close to its base, and is often marked with rust-colored spots. The flower stalk can hold up to twelve flowers total, though only two or three open at any one time. Each individual flower is 1.5–2.0 cm across. In New Zealand, flower color is dark blue, mauve or magenta, while in Australia, flower color is pale blue, and very rarely pink or white. The top of the flower's column is yellow, and the column arms bear a mop-like tuft of white or mauve hairs. Flowers of this species typically only open in warm weather. In Australia, flowering mostly occurs between August and January; in New Zealand, flowering occurs between November and January. This species is distributed in the Australian Capital Territory and all Australian states except Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In Australia, it grows in sclerophyll forest, woodland, and heath. It is also found in New Zealand, where it grows in open areas among scrub, on clay banks, and in open grassland, ranging from lowlands to low montane elevations.
