Eriochilus tenuis

Last updated

Slender bunny orchid
Eriochilus tenuis.jpg
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. tenuis
Binomial name
Eriochilus tenuis

Eriochilus tenuis, commonly known as the slender bunny orchid, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Eriochilus tenuis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single egg-shaped leaf 10–40 mm (0.4–2 in) long and 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) wide which lies flat on the ground. One or two pink or white flowers about 10 mm (0.4 in) long and wide are borne on a stem, 70–150 mm (3–6 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 9–11 mm (0.4–0.4 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and spread apart. The petals are narrow spatula-shaped, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and held close to the dorsal sepal. The labellum is pink, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and has three lobes. The middle lobe is egg-shaped, 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) long and is fleshy with red bristles. Flowering occurs from September to November, more prolifically after fire the previous summer. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Eriochilus tenuis was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley and the description was published in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony . [5] The specific epithet (tenuis) is a Latin word meaning "thin", [6] referring to the thin form of this orchid. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The slender bunny orchid grows in winter-wet swamps and in moss beds on granite outcrops between Perth and Albany. [2] [3] [4] [7]

Conservation

Eriochilus tenuis is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7]

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

Caladenia flava subsp. flava, commonly known as the cowslip orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a relatively common orchid with a single, hairy leaf and up to three golden-yellow flowers which often have red markings.

<i>Caladenia flava <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> sylvestris</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia flava subsp. sylvestris, commonly known as the karri cowslip orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and up to three pale yellow and cream-coloured flowers which are white near the tips of the sepals and petals and marked with bright red or pink.

<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>Microtis orbicularis</i> Species of orchid

Microtis orbicularis, commonly known as the dark mignonette orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to southern Australia. It has a single thin, more or less hollow, onion-like leaf and up to fifty small yellowish-green and red flowers. The plants grow in winter-wet areas, often in shallow water and unlike the similar M. cupularis do not turn black as they dry.

<i>Diuris laevis</i> Species of orchid

Diuris laevis, commonly known as the nanny goat orchid, is a rare species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between four and eight leaves and up to six pale yellow flowers which usually have reddish-brown markings. It has an unusually short dorsal sepal and wide labellum and is relatively common between Bunbury and Albany.

Corybas abditus, commonly known as the swamp helmet orchid or small helmet orchid , is a species of terrestrial orchid endemic to Western Australia. It is a rare orchid with a single bluish green, heart-shaped leaf and a small flower with an enlarged dorsal sepal and tube-shaped labellum.

<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.

Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. magnus, commonly known as the Easter bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single large, smooth, flattened leaf and up to twenty five dull green, red and white flowers. It is found in high rainfall areas between Perth and Albany.

Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. multiflorus, commonly known as the common bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single short, smooth, flattened, egg-shaped leaf and up to twenty dull green, red and white flowers which are often closely packed. It grows in forest and woodland between Perth and Albany.

Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. orientalis, commonly known as the eastern bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single short, smooth, flattened, egg-shaped leaf and up to seven dull green, red and white flowers on a fleshy flowering stem. It only occurs on the coast near Caiguna.

<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 magenteus</i> Species of orchid

Eriochilus magenteus, commonly known as the magenta autumn orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south eastern Australia. It is a slender ground orchid with a single leaf and one or two small, bright pink to magenta flowers. It is only found in higher areas of the Australian Capital Territory, southern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria.

Eriochilus pulchellus, commonly known as the granite bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single egg-shaped leaf and up to ten small white flowers with red markings. A relatively common species, it grows in shallow soil on granite outcrops. Its fleshy leaf is held above the ground on a thin stalk.

<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 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.

Pyrorchis forrestii, commonly known as pink beaks, is a species of orchid endemic to Western Australia. It has two or three ground-hugging leaves and up to seven sweetly perfumed, pink and white flowers, but it only flowers after fire the previous summer.

References

  1. "Eriochilus tenuis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 278. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 265. ISBN   9780980296457.
  4. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 230. ISBN   9780646562322.
  5. "Eriochilus tenuis". APNI. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 132.
  7. 1 2 "Eriochilus tenuis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.