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.
Eriochilus cucullatus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a single, egg-shaped, dark green, slightly rough and hairy leaf which is not fully developed until after flowering, when it is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Up to five white to pale pink flowers NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a slender spike, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The dorsal sepal is spoon-shaped to lance shaped with the narrower end towards its base, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and forms a hood over the column. The enlarged lateral sepals are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and white to pale pink. The petals are reddish-green, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and about 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and slightly enlarged near the tip. The labellum is white, green or yellowish, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and fleshy with tufts of short red and white hairs. Flowering occurs from December to June.[1] [2] [3] [4]
This orchid was first formally described in 1805 by Jacques Labillardière who gave it the name Epipactis cucullata and published the description in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.[5] In 1871 Heinrich Reichenbach changed the name to Eriochilus cucullatus.[6] The specific epithet (cucullatus) is a Latin word meaning "hooded"[7] and the common name, "parson's bands" refers to the white (or pink) lateral sepals resembling a clerical collar.
Parson's bands is widespread in Tasmania,[8] in Victoria apart from the far north-west, eastern New South Wales as far west as Grenfell, south-east Queensland and south-east South Australia.[9] It grows in a wide range of habitats, from grassland to forest and from coastal areas to subalpine zones.
Eriochilus cucullatus is sometimes grown in pots by orchid enthusiasts but requires specialist techniques.[10]