Dotted sun orchid .. Thelymitra ixioides T-Shirt

There were quite a few of these growing near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains National Park (October 2009). Originally unidentified but found easily on a search through native australian flower websites. Family: Orchidaceae Distribution: Widespread in all Australian states except the Northern Territory. Also occurs in New Zealand and New Caledonia. Common Name: Spotted sun orchid. Derivation of Name: Thelymitra...From Greek thelys, female and mitra, a headdress, referring to the appearance of the plumed column (the fused stamens, styles and stigma). ixioides...similar to the genus Ixia. Thelymitra is a genus of about 80 species of terrestrial orchids distributed throughout Australia, New Zealand and islands to the north ...