Thelasis capitata, commonly known as the conical fly orchid,[1] is a plant in the orchid family. It is a clump-forming epiphyte with flattened pseudobulbs, each with a single strap-shaped leaf. A large number of small yellowish green flowers are arranged in a cone shape on a thin but stiff flowering stem. This orchid is found from Thailand to Malesia, including on Christmas Island.
Thelasis capitata is an epiphytic herb with thin roots and flattened pseudobulbs NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and wide. Each pseudobulb has a single thick, fleshy, dark green, strap-shaped leaf NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. A large number of yellowish green resupinate flowers NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide are arranged in a conical head on the top of a thin but stiff flowering stem NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long emerging from the base of the pseudobulb. The flowers open one after the other in a spiral sequence, each flower lasting a few days. The dorsal sepal is about 3sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and 1.5sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide, the lateral sepals about 4sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and 2sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The petals are shorter and narrower than the dorsal sepal. The labellum is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and about 2.5sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide and curves downwards. Flowering occurs between April and June.[2]
Thelasis capitata was first formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume who published the description in Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië.[3] [4] The specific epithet (capitata) is a Latin word meaning "having a head".[5]
The conical fly orchid usually grows on rainforest trees. It is found in Thailand, Borneo, Java, the Maluku Islands, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra and Christmas Island.