Based on forms seen on
the Tomaree Peninsula.
All sepals and petals including the
labellum similar. Thelymitra. 1
1. Flower pink about 15 dia. Leaf less
than 3 dia. Thelymitra carnea
1. Not as above.
2
2. Column bent forward forming a hood.
The opening facing forward. 4
2. Column not bent forward. The U
shaped opening, with an inner ridge
outer fingers, and a pair of auxiliary
lobes faces up. 3
3. Fingers long auxiliary lobes wavy.
Never dotted. Thelymitra purpurata
3. Fingers short auxiliary lobes jagged.
Sometimes dotted. Thelymitra ixioides
4. In profile the hood looks flattened,
the extension forward is long, shallow
and does not taper.
4. Not as above.
5
5. Leaf concave. Not fleshy. Three ribs
or angles obvious on the back. 6
5. Leaf V shaped. Fleshy. Only the angle
of the V obvious on the back. 7
6. Hood centreline a bit depressed at
the front. Opening top a broad V. In
profile the top is a convex arc, the nose
short and tapered. Thelymitra brevifolia
6. The hood has a narrow V, U or cleft
on top. Thelymitra angustifolia
6. Hood tapers forward to an opening
which from the front looks small and
circular. Tufts coloured or sometimes
white. Large form of Thelymitra malvina
7. In profile the hood up the back, over
the top and around the upper front
is convex. It looks swolen each side of
the opening. Thelymitra pauciflora
7. In profile the hood abruptly flattens
on the forward half of the top then
curves tightly to a vertical front.
7. Leaf about 3 wide. Column like malvina.
Small form of Thelymitra malvina
Note. The separation of purpurata and
ixioides is questionable.
For use with living plants.