Spiral sun-orchid

Scientific name: Thelymitra matthewsii 

National status (EPBC Act 1999): Endangered

South Australian status: (NPW Act 1972): Endangered

Description:

Annual terrestrial orchid emerging in spring with a unique, easily identifiable, spirally twisted leaf to 6 cm long. Usually one, rarely two, flowers to 20 cm high. Flowers are purple to red with darker stripes and a yellow apex. Flowering between August and September.

Distribution:

Found on the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and the South-east of South Australia. On Kangaroo Island it mainly grows on ironstone gravel within mallee heathland.

Specific threats:

Threats to Thelymitra matthewsii include vegetation clearance and disturbance (from road maintenance and fire prevention works), inappropriate fire regimes (lack of fire or too frequent fires), climate change and declining genetic viability due to a small and fragmented population.

Image credit left: SA Seed Conservation Centre, centre: Denzel Murfet