Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.
Genus
Thelymitra J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Thelymitra matthewsii Cheeseman, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 43: 177 (1910 [1911]) – as Matthewsii
Synonymy:
  • = Thelymitra daltonii R.S.Rogers (1930) – as d'Altonii
Vernacular Name(s):
Spiral sun orchid
 Description

Plant at fl. c. 10–15 cm. tall. Lf flexuous or spirally twisted round stem; sheath broad, finely and closely puberulous, as is stem immediately below; lamina 3–6 cm. long, linear and very much narrower than sheath. Infl. 1–2-fld. Per. c. 8–14 mm. long, dark purplish blue with darker veins. Sepals, petals and labellum alike, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate. Column short; anther largely exposed; connective prolonged; column-arms ± oblong, thick and fleshy, neither lobed nor ciliate, bright yellow; post-anther lobe lacking; small calli sts present across back of anther between bases of column-arms.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Aug.–Sep.–Nov.

 Bibliography
Cheeseman, T. F. 1911 ("1910"): New species of plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 43: 175–178.
Clements, M.A. 1989: Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae. Australian Orchid Research 1: 1–160.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Nationally Critical]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Nationally Critical]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Nationally Critical]
Hatch, E.D. 1952: The New Zealand Forms of Thelymitra J. R. and G. Forster and Appendices. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 79: 386–402.
Parsons, M.J.; Douglass, P.; Macmillan, B.H. 1998: Current Names List for wild Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons (except Grasses) of New Zealand as used in Herbarium CHR. Version 1, to 31 Dec 1995. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.