Thelymitra imbricata, commonly called the broad sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Tasmania. It has a single erect, channelled leaf and up to fifteen or more pale to dark or purplish blue, relatively large flowers.
Thelymitra imbricata is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, fleshy, channelled, light green, linear to lance-shaped leaf NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with a purplish base. Between three and fifteen or more pale to dark or purplish blue flowers NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide are arranged on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The sepals and petals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The column is white, bluish or pinkish, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide, brown or orange brown with a narrow blue band, gently curved with an inflated hood and a V-shaped notch. The side lobes are finger-like and have dense, toothbrush-like tufts of white hairs. Flowering occurs from late October to early December. The flowers are long-lasting, insect pollinated and open on warm sunny days.[1] [2]
Thelymitra imbricata was first formally described in 1998 by David Jones and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research. The name replaced the synonym Thelymitra nuda var. grandiflora Lindl..[3] The specific epithet (imbricata) is a Latin word meaning "overlapping like roofing-tiles and shingles".[4]
The broad sun orchid usually grows in a range of habitats including open forest, scrubland, grassland and heath in the Tasmanian midlands.[5]