Eriochilus petricola

Last updated

Eriochilus petricola
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Eriochilus
Species:
E. petricola
Binomial name
Eriochilus petricola

Eriochilus petricola is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a slender ground orchid with a single leaf and up to three small, white to pale pink flowers and grows near rock ledges.

Contents

Description

Eriochilus petricola is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a single, egg-shaped to almost round, dark green leaf 8–16 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long and 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide with prominent veins and usually a hairy upper surface. Up to three white to pale pink flowers are borne on a slender spike up to 100 mm (4 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear to thread-like, 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) wide. The petals are 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 0.6 mm (0.02 in) wide. The labellum is 5–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and fleshy with tufts of red bristles. Flowering occurs from March to May. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Eriochilus petricola was first formally described in 2004 by David Jones and Mark Clements and the description was published in The Orchadian. [4] The specific epithet (petricola) is derived from the Ancient Greek words petra meaning "rock" or "shelf or ledge of rock" [5] :757 and -cola meaning "dweller" [5] :217

Distribution and habitat

This orchid grows in shallow, sandy soil on and near rock ledges between Nowra, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and inland to the Blue Mountains. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Eriochilus</i> Genus of orchids

Eriochilus, commonly known as bunny orchids, is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae that is endemic to Australia. Orchids in this genus are distinguished from those in the similar Caladenia by having a glabrous leaf and a densely woolly labellum. Species occur in south-west Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania. Their common name alludes to their prominent ear-like lateral sepals.

<i>Caladenia gracilis</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia gracilis, commonly known as musky caps or musky caladenia, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and up to six flowers which are dark-coloured on the back and white on the front, sometimes tinged with pink and with a strong musky or soapy odour. The species is also known as Caladenia moschata in Victoria.

<i>Caladenia curtisepala</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia curtisepala, commonly known as short-hooded fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf, and a single white to cream-coloured flower with a white labellum with red bands.

Caladenia leptoclavia, commonly known as the thin-clubbed spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and a single pale cream-coloured to yellow flower with dark reddish stripes.

<i>Caladenia chamaephylla</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia chamaephylla, commonly known as redleaf fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and a single pink flower which is brownish-pink on the back. Unlike the leaves of most caladenias, this one has a leaf which lies flat on the ground and flowers appear in late autumn or winter.

<i>Eriochilus cucullatus</i> Species of orchid

Eriochilus cucullatus, commonly known as parson's bands, or leafless parson's bands, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a common and widespread, slender ground orchid with a single leaf and up to five small white to pale pink flowers. It grows in all Australian states except Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

<i>Prasophyllum sylvestre</i> Species of orchid

Prasophyllum sylvestre, commonly known as the forest leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, bright green leaf and up to thirty faintly scented, pale green, pink and reddish-brown flowers. It is similar to P. fuscum and P. affine but differs from them, including in the habitat in which they grow.

Prasophyllum roseum, commonly known as the pink lip leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to southern continental Australia. It has a single tube-shaped leaf and up to thirty greenish flowers with a pink labellum. It is a recently described plant, previously included with P. fitzgeraldii, but distinguished from that species by its smaller, less crowded flowers, with more spreading lateral sepals and different labellum callus. It grows in the south-east of South Australia and in western Victoria.

<i>Dendrobium pugioniforme</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium pugioniforme, commonly known as the dagger orchid is a species of orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with pendulous, wiry stems, fleshy, sharply pointed leaves and flowering stems with one or two greenish or yellowish flowers with a white labellum. It grows on trees and rocks, mostly in humid forest.

Genoplesium sagittiferum, commonly known as the horned midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to ten small, yellowish-green flowers with a hairy reddish labellum.

Genoplesium superbum, commonly known as the pink midge orchid or superb midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single thin leaf and up to fifteen dark pinkish-purple flowers which lean downwards. It is listed as "endangered" in New South Wales because of its limited distribution and disturbance of its habitat.

<i>Eriochilus helonomos</i> Species of orchid

Eriochilus helonomos, commonly known as the swamp bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single pointed leaf and usually a single white or cream-coloured flower with reddish brown markings. A relatively common species, it usually grows in swampy places. It is distinguished from other bunny orchids by the arrangement of its petals.

<i>Eriochilus dilatatus <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> dilatatus</i> Subspecies of orchid

Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus, commonly known as the white bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single narrow leaf and up to seven greenish and white flowers with reddish or mauve markings. A widespread and common species, it grows in a range of habitats and flowers prolifically after fire.

Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. brevifolius, commonly known as the blunt-leaved bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single small, smooth leaf with wavy edges and a pale red lower surface, and up to three greenish and white flowers with red or mauve markings. It is distinguished from the other subspecies by the colour of the lower surface of its leaf and by its later flowering period.

<i>Eriochilus dilatatus <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> undulatus</i> Subspecies of orchid

Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. undulatus, commonly known as the crinkle-leaved bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a common orchid in the wheatbelt and has single narrow egg-shaped leaf with wavy edges and a maroon underside. Up to three dull green, red and white flowers are borne on a wiry flowering stem.

<i>Eriochilus dilatatus</i> Species of orchid

Eriochilus dilatatus, commonly known as the white bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a common and widespread, slender ground orchid with a single leaf and up to fifteen small white and greenish flowers with reddish or brownish markings and a hairy labellum.

<i>Eriochilus scaber</i> Species of orchid

Eriochilus scaber is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single leaf and up to three small red, pink and white flowers. Two subspecies are recognised based on the shape of the leaf and its height above the ground.

Eriochilus tenuis, commonly known as the slender bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single egg-shaped leaf lying flat on the ground and one or two small pink or pink and white flowers. A common species, it grows in dense, shrubby forest and in winter-wet swamps.

Eriochilus valens, commonly known as the red-lipped bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single egg-shaped leaf held above the ground and up to four small pink or white and pink flowers. It grows near winter-west swamps and usually only flowers after fire the previous summer.

Liparis petricola, commonly known as the mountain sprite orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Queensland. It is a terrestrial orchid with two or three egg-shaped leaves and between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers with a green column. It grows in rainforest in tropical far North Queensland.

References

  1. "Eriochilus petricola". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 Pellow, Belinda J.; Henwood, Murray J.; Carolin, Roger C. (2009). Flora of the Sydney region : a complete revision (5th ed.). Sydney: Sydney University Press. p. 536. ISBN   9781920899301 . Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  3. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 277. ISBN   1877069124.
  4. "Eriochilus petricola". APNI. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.