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