Thelymitra inflata, commonly called the inflated sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south eastern Australia. It has a single long, erect, linear leaf and up to six dark blue to purplish flowers with a very inflated lobe on top of the anther.
Thelymitra inflata is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, dark green, fleshy, channelled, linear leaf NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with a purplish base. Up to six dark blue to purplish flowers NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 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 blue or pinkish, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is brownish or black with a yellow tip and a narrow purplish band. It is also inflated, covered with a thick, waxy secretion and its end is split in two lobes. The side lobes slightly curved upwards and have toothbrush-like tufts of white, cream or yellow hairs. Flowering occurs from September to December but the flowers only open on warm to hot days.[1] [2] [3]
Thelymitra inflata was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes. The description was published in Muelleria from a specimen collected near Mylor.[4] The specific epithet (inflata) is a Latin word meaning "puffed up" or "swollen",[5] referring to the inflated lobe on top of the column.
The inflated sun orchid usually grows in woodland and forest near Hobart in Tasmania, in a few sites in south-western Victoria, and in scattered sites in south-eastern South Australia.[6]
Thelymitra inflata is classed as "vulnerable" in South Australia. The main threat to the species in that state is the fungal disease caused by Phytophthora infestans.