Thelymitra arenaria

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Between two and sixteen purplish flowers 16–26 mm wide are borne on a flowering stem 240–400 mm tall
There are usually two bracts on the flowering stem
The sepals and petals are 8–15 mm long and 4–8 mm wide
The column is pale blue with dark blue streaks, 4.5–6 mm long and 2.5–3.5 mm wide
The lobe on the top of the anther is dark brown with a yellow tip and gently curved
The side lobes curve upwards and have dense, hairbrush-like tufts of white hairs
The flowers are self-pollinating and only open on warm to hot, humid days
Flowering occurs from October to December

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Distribution:

Endemic to south-eastern Australia
Found in southern NSW, ACT, in the southern half of Victoria, in south-eastern South Australia and in Tasmania
It is widespread and common within most of its range

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Additional notes:

Taxonomy
- It was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley from a specimen collected in Tasmania and the description was published in his book The genera and species of Orchidaceous plants

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