Thelymitra rubra is commonly known as the Salmon Sun-orchid. According to Orr (1995) in the 'Orchids of Bendigo', this is chiefly a self-pollinating species. The flowers only open in bright sunshine. Like in other orchids, pollen is packaged in pollinia and the pollen also shows an intricately sculptured outer. Why? This question is particularly interesting if the orchid does not need any pollinators… Like many other orchids, aboriginals ate the starchy tubers of this species.

Pollen images

light microscopy
electron microscopy