Sarcochilus, commonly known as butterfly orchids or fairy bells[1] is a genus of about twenty species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are epiphytes or lithophytes and usually have short stems, leaves arranged in two rows, and flowers arranged along unbranched flowering stems. Most species are endemic to Australia but some are found in New Guinea and New Caledonia.
Orchids in the genus Sarcochilus are epiphytic or lithophytic monopodial herbs with fibrous stems and long, relatively broad leaves folded lengthwise and arranged in two ranks. The flowers are scented, resupinate and arranged on an unbranched flowering stem, each flower on a short thin stalk. The sepals and petals are free from and similar to each other except that the petals are usually smaller than the sepals. The labellum is hinged to the column and has three lobes. The sides lobes are relatively large and upright, sometimes curving inwards. The structure of the middle lobe varies between species.[2] [3] [4]
The genus Sarcochilus was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[5] [6] The name Sarcochilus is derived from the Ancient Greek words sarx meaning "flesh"[7] and cheilos meaning "lip",[7] referring to the fleshy labellum of these orchids.
The genus Sarcochilus has been shown to be non-monophyletic.[8]
The following is a list of Sarcochilus species recognised by Plants of the World Online as of March 2023. The common names in the list below are those used by David Jones.[9]
| Image | Name | Common Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarcochilus argochilus D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., 2006 | northern lawyer orchid | Queensland | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus australis (Lindl.) Rchb.f. in Walp., 1863 | butterfly orchid, Gunn's tree orchid | New South Wales through south-eastern Victoria to northern Tasmania. | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus borealis (Nicholls) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem., 1989 | small lawyer orchid | New South Wales and Queensland | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus ceciliae F.Muell., 1865 | fairy bells | Queensland and New South Wales | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus chrysanthus Schltr., 1913 | New Guinea | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Sarcochilus dilatatus F.Muell., 1859 | brown butterfly orchid | Queensland and New South Wales | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus falcatus R.Br., 1810 | orange blossom orchid | Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii F.Muell., 1870 | ravine orchid | Queensland and New South Wales | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus gildasii N.Hallé, 1986 | New Caledonia | |||
| Sarcochilus hartmannii F.Muell., 1874 | large boulder orchid | eastern Australia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus hillii (F.Muell.) F.Muell, 1860 | myrtle bells | Australia and New Caledonia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus hirticalcar (Dockrill) M.A.Clem. & B.J.Wallace, 1998 | harlequin orchid | Queensland | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus iboensis Schltr., 1913 | New Guinea | 1000m (3,000feet) | ||
| Sarcochilus koghiensis Schltr., 1911 | New Caledonia | |||
| Sarcochilus odoratus Schltr., 1913 | New Guinea | 200m (700feet) | ||
| Sarcochilus parviflorus Lindl., 1838 | southern lawyer orchid, green tree orchid | New South Wales | 600m (2,000feet) | |
| Sarcochilus rarus Schltr., 1906 | New Caledonia | |||
| Sarcochilus serrulatus D.L.Jones, 1972 | banded butterfly orchid | Queensland | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus spathulatus R.S.Rogers, 1927 | small butterfly orchid | Queensland and New South Wales | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Sarcochilus thycola (N.Hallé) M.A.Clem., D.L.Jones & D.P.Banks, 2019 | New Caledonia | |||
| Sarcochilus tricalliatus (Rupp) Rupp, 1951 | Queensland | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Sarcochilus uniflorus Schltr., 1913 | New Guinea | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Sarcochilus weinthalii F.M.Bailey, 1903 | blotched butterfly orchid | Queensland and New South Wales | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
The term "sarco" is often used to refer to a number of orchid genera, including Sarcochilus. Most species of Sarcochilus are easily grown but some are very difficult. They need bright light, high humidity and free air movement.[10]