These beautiful orchids are only found in Western Australia where they are one of this State’s most protected species.
They cannot be picked or transplanted and can only be viewed in their natural habitat.
They have a special relationship with a specific soil fungus and therefore cannot survive outside of that environment.
Thelymitra variegata – Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa – Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima – Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra apiculata – Cleopatra’s Needles
Due to the obvious relationships with the Queen of Sheba, T. variegata it was named as a variety of that species. David Jones and Mark Clements later elevated it to specific rank on the basis that the leaf is often curved rather than spirally twisted and the erect column lobes have distinct needle-like points.
Am now seeing the photos. I was just a little impatient, I do get excited!! Excellent
These plants are amazingly beautiful! Great pics!
Going to South West corner September and October. Would like to be blessed by the sight of some of these.
Thanks for putting them on the net.
Esther
Unfortunately you will be too late for the Queens.
Luckily I am going to be north of Perth in August – will I have a chance to see these amazing orchids?
My wife and I have photographed both the variegata and the pulcherrima but didn’t find the eastern variety when we were over in WA. We live on the Central Coast, NSW.
Please share with us what equipment you now use, and your techniques. Admire your pics!
Are you the same Lyndon Schick who did a slide photo show at the Mayanup hall (near Boyup Brook W.A.) in the late seventies?
A Mr Eric Chapman has got me interested in Orchids..
Hi
I have a pic of a Queen of Sheba that is very blue in colour and quite different to the others in the area, ‘Gull Rock Albany’ I was wondering if it is a different variety or the result of age and sunlight?
Today we have found a Queen of Sheba at Eneabba, very difficult to find
If people would stop digging and picking there would be more and easier to find. The queens were very small this year and a more pale color so much harder to spot.
Hi Noel
I’m a Nature painter who paints botanicals. I just painted a large scale ‘portrait of the Eastern Queen of Sheba for the World Botanical Exhibition: Wildflowers of Australia 2018. Andrew Brown provided some high resolution images. But I also used your site to refer to colours and shapes. So thanks for sharing.
I may do further work on this wonderful flower. If so I’d love to get more high resolution photos in order to beaccuarte with the detail. Would you be willing to share-I would of course acknowledge your photos. I can email you some of my work.
Cheers Marina from South Fremantle
In what climate do these beauties live in? Where could they be purchased at? Beautiful! Very curious Thank you for your time. ❤️
Where can I get any of these?
I would love to buy one of these beautiful orchids. Is there any way I can purchase one?
Can the public purchase these magnificent orchids?
Is there anywhere that I can purchase one of these Queen of Sheba orchids or are the only grown wild.
Most beautiful flower.
I would like to share
W8th family in Canada.
These beautiful orchids are only found in Western Australia where they are one of this State’s most protected species.
They cannot be picked or transplanted and can only be viewed in their natural habitat.
They have a special relationship with a specific soil fungus and therefore cannot survive outside of that environment.
great stuff. just getting into chasing orchids. remember my mother showing some to me on our farm out Karlgarin way in the ’60’s. Sadly so much of the bush that used to be there then is now gone.