any of about 50 plant species of the genus Thelymitra, family Orchidaceae, distributed throughout Australasia. The flowers of all species have a hooded column with tufted, comblike, or earlike appendages.

A sun orchid derives its name from its habit of remaining closed except in strong sunlight. Some self-pollinating species never open their flowers. The lemon orchid (T. antennifera), the twisted sun orchid (T. flexuosa), the custard orchid (T. violosa), and the scented sun orchid (T. avistata) are common Australian species.