Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
Let   ${{\mathcal{H}}_{n}}$  be the real linear space of
 ${{\mathcal{H}}_{n}}$  be the real linear space of   $n\,\times \,n$  complex Hermitian matrices. The unitary (similarity) orbit
 $n\,\times \,n$  complex Hermitian matrices. The unitary (similarity) orbit   $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$  of
 $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$  of   $C\,\in \,{{\mathcal{H}}_{n}}$  is the collection of all matrices unitarily similar to
 $C\,\in \,{{\mathcal{H}}_{n}}$  is the collection of all matrices unitarily similar to   $C$ . We characterize those
 $C$ . We characterize those   $C\,\in \,{{\mathcal{H}}_{n}}$  such that every matrix in the convex hull of
 $C\,\in \,{{\mathcal{H}}_{n}}$  such that every matrix in the convex hull of   $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$  can be written as the average of two matrices in
 $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$  can be written as the average of two matrices in   $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$ . The result is used to study spectral properties of submatrices of matrices in
 $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$ . The result is used to study spectral properties of submatrices of matrices in   $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$ , the convexity of images of
 $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$ , the convexity of images of   $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$  under linear transformations, and some related questions concerning the joint
 $\mathcal{U}\left( C \right)$  under linear transformations, and some related questions concerning the joint   $C$ -numerical range of Hermitian matrices. Analogous results on real symmetric matrices are also discussed.
 $C$ -numerical range of Hermitian matrices. Analogous results on real symmetric matrices are also discussed.