The Queen of Sheba consists of four regional sub species. They are distinguished mainly by flower colour and distribution, but there is considerable variation on colour in all species.
Thelymitra variegata -Queen of Sheba
The Queen of Sheba was historically found between Perth and Busselton, but has lost most of its habitat due to clearing and development and is now critically endangered. The flowers show great colour variation with stripes and spots of pink, blue, yellow and red. Each plant has two to six flowers on stems up to 40cm tall.
Thelymitra variegata - Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra variegata - Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra variegata - Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra variegata - Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra variegata - Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
A recent revision has seen this orchid considered distinct from the other varieties of Queen of Sheba. The Southern Queen of Sheba is distinguished from the Queen of Sheba (T. variegata) by having flowers that are a little larger and generally more colourful. It is distinguished from the Eastern Queen of Sheba (T. speciosa) by having much larger plants and flowers and having more flowers per stem. The Southern Queen of Sheba is found along the south coast between Walpole and Albany.
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra porphyrosticta - Southern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
The Northern Queen of Sheba is found north of Perth in sandy soils on the coastal plain. Plants usually have 1-3 flowers and typically have three pinkish petals and three red-yellow sepals.
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima - Northern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
The Eastern Queen of Sheba typically has more blue colouring and often has a blue stripe down the centre of each petal and sepal. It is found from the Stirling Range east to Esperance. This variety rarely has more than two flowers per stem.
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra speciosa - Eastern Queen of Sheba
Thelymitra pulcherrima x campanulata - Hybrid Queen Orchid
This orchid is a hybrid between the Northern Queen of Sheba and the Shirt Orchid.
The characteristic stripes of the Shirt Orchid can be seen and the blue colouring from the Shirt Orchid parent has resulted in a dull pink colouring in the hybrid.
Thelymitra pulcherrima x campanulata - Hybrid Queen Orchid
Thelymitra pulcherrima x campanulata - Hybrid Queen Orchid
Thelymitra pulcherrima x campanulata - Hybrid Queen Orchid
Thelymitra campanulata - Shirt Orchid