Eriochilus dilatatus explained

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.

Description

Eriochilus dilatatus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. Plants in flower have a single, egg-shaped leaf NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and attached about halfway up the flowering stem. Plants not in flower usually have a larger leaf on a stalk NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. Up to fifteen, usually more than three white and greenish flowers NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The dorsal sepal is spatula-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The lateral sepals are white or cream-coloured, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The petals are greenish with brownish-red stripes, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and more or less erect. The labellum is greenish cream, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with clusters of cream-coloured to pale purple hairs, and is prominently curved downwards. Flowering occurs between March and June with some subspecies flowering more prolifically after fire.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy, naming and distribution

Eriochilus dilatatus 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 (dilatatus) is a Latin word meaning "spread out", "enlarge", or "extend",[6] referring to the broad labellum and lateral sepals.

There are six subspecies:

Ecology

All bunny orchids are pollinated by small native bees, attracted to nectar at the base of the labellum.

Use in horticulture

Eriochilus species are generally easily grown in pots in a bushhouse or cool glasshouse. They need to be watered regularly when growing but kept dry when dormant during summer.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones. David L.. A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. 2006. New Holland. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.. 1877069124. 275.
  2. Hopper . Stephen . Brown . Andrew Phillip . New and reinstated taxa in Eriochilus . Nuytsia . 2006 . 16 . 1 . 33–36 . 15 July 2018.
  3. Book: Brown. Andrew. Dundas. Pat. Dixon. Kingsley. Hopper. Stephen. Orchids of Western Australia. 2008. University of Western Australia Press. Crawley, Western Australia. 9780980296457. 254–256.
  4. Book: Hoffman. Noel. Brown. Andrew. Orchids of South-West Australia.. 2011. Noel Hoffman. Gooseberry Hill. 9780646562322. 220–221. 3rd.
  5. Web site: Eriochilus dilatatus. APNI. 15 July 2018.
  6. Book: Brown. Roland Wilbur. The Composition of Scientific Words. 1956. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.. 743.