Thelymitra brevifolia

Flowering stem erect, straight, (12–)25–60 cm tall, 1–3.5 mm diam., green to purplish. Leaf linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, attenuate, (5–)10–26 cm long, (3–)7–20 mm wide, scabrous, thin-textured or leathery, more or less flat, ribbed abaxially, sheathing at base, dark green often suffused with reddish purple, margins and mid-vein often purplish. Inflorescence 2–10(–20)-flowered, open. Sterile bracts usually 2, rarely 1or 3. Perianth segments lanceolate to ovate, (6–)10–12 mm long, purplish blue, rarely pink or white. Column 4–5.5 mm long, pale blue or pale pink at base; mid-lobe expanded into a hood over the anther, tubular, not inflated, curving forward gently through c. 90 deg., bright reddish orange, yellow or blackish, apex almost entire, emarginate or deeply and irregularly slit producing 2 more or less parallel lobes; lateral lobes converging, 0.7–1 mm long, digitiform, porrect at base then curving gently upwards, each with a sub-terminal mop-like tuft of white hairs embracing the apex of the mid-lobe. Anther inserted about mid-way along column, shortly beaked. Flowers Sep.–Nov.