Thelymitra aristata

Flowering stem erect, stout, straight, 20–100 cm tall, 2–9 mm diam., green or purplish. Leaf linear to linear-lanceolate, 10–40 cm long, 5–40 mm wide, flattish, fleshy, canaliculate, ribbed abaxially, sheathing at base, light or dark green with a purplish base, sometimes with dark spots or blotches. Inflorescence 5–40-flowered. Sterile bracts 1–4, large, lower ones leaf-like. Perianth segments lanceolate to oblanceolate, 10–25 mm long, blue to violet, rarely greenish-blue, pinkish or white, sometimes with darker longitudinal veins; sepals generally firmer than petals. Column ovoid, 6–8 mm long, white, pale blue or greenish; mid-lobe expanded into a flap-like cover, 2–3 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, purplish-brown, attenuated, rising over the anther and higher than the lateral lobes, the yellow tip finely toothed or incised, sometimes deeply notched; lateral lobes converging, filiform, usually suberect and straight, sometimes geniculate, hair-tufts mop-like, bushy, usually white, obscuring the orifice below mid-lobe crest. Anther inserted towards base of column, apex ending in a short beak. Flowers Sep.–Nov.