Description
Orchids in the genus ''Eriochilus'' are terrestrial, Perennial plant, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herbs usually with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and a roughly spherical, wikt:succulent, succulent tuber. Replacement tubers form at the end of short "droppers". There is a single, glabrous, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaf either at the base, or in the middle of the flowering stem. The inflorescence is a raceme with up to 25 Resupination#Orchidaceae, resupinate flowers, each with a small bract at the base of its stalk. The wikt:dorsal, dorsal sepal is smaller than the other two sepals, is dished and erect but curves forward to form a hood over the labellum. The wikt:lateral, lateral sepals are much longer, broader and more conspicuous than the dorsal sepal and are white to pink and spreading. As is usual in orchids, one petal is highly modified as the central labellum. The other two petals are usually smaller and narrower than the sepals and are either erect, spreading or curved backwards towards the ovary. The base of the labellum partly surrounds the lower part of the Column (botany), column forming a tube while the front is strongly curved downwards, covered with Gland (botany), glandular hairs and often spotted. The sexual parts of the flower are fused to the Column (botany), column, which is erect, short, weakly curved and has narrow, wing-like structures. Bunny orchids flower from late winter to early summer, depending on species. The fruit that follows flowering is a non-fleshy, Dehiscence (botany), dehiscent Capsule (botany), capsule containing up to 500 seeds.Taxonomy and naming
The genus ''Eriochilus'' was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown (Scottish botanist from Montrose), Robert Brown and the description was published in ''Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae''. The botanical name ''Eriochilus'' is derived from the Ancient Greek words ἔριον ''erion'' meaning "wool" and χεῖλος ''cheilos'' meaning lip referring to the hairy labellum.Distribution and habitat
Ten species of bunny orchids occur in Western Australia where they are found in a range of habitats from areas that are swampy in winter to dry inland woodlands. They occur from north of Kalbarri, Western Australia, Kalbarri to Israelite Bay, Western Australia, Israelite Bay on the south coast. Three species are found in the south-east of South Australia, including the Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula. Two species are found in Victoria, three in New South Wales. Bunny orchids are also found in Queensland and Tasmania.Species list
The following is a list of species recognised by Plants of the World Online as of April 2025. *''Eriochilus collinus'' D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates (S.A.) **''Eriochilus collinus'' D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates subsp. ''collinus'' (S.A.) **''Eriochilus collinus'' subsp. ''sericeus'' R.J.Bates (S.A.) *''Eriochilus cucullatus'' (Labill.) Rchb.f. – parson's bands (S.A., N.S.W., Vic., Qld. Tas.) *''Eriochilus dilatatus'' Lindl. **Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. brevifolius, ''Eriochilus dilatatus'' subsp. ''brevifolius'' (Benth.) Hopper & A.P.Br. – blunt-leaved bunny orchid (W.A.) **Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus, ''Eriochilus dilatatus'' Lindl. subsp. ''dilatatus'' – white bunny orchid (W.A.) **Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. magnus, ''Eriochilus dilatatus'' subsp. ''magnus'' Hopper & A.P.Br. – Easter bunny orchid (W.A.) **Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. multiflorus, ''Eriochilus dilatatus'' subsp. ''multiflorus'' (Lindl.) Hopper & A.P.Br. – common bunny orchid (W.A.) **Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. orientalis, ''Eriochilus dilatatus'' subsp. ''orientalis'' Hopper & A.P.Br. – eastern bunny orchid (W.A.) **Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. undulatus, ''Eriochilus dilatatus'' subsp. ''undulatus'' Hopper & A.P.Br. – crinkle-leafed bunny orchid (W.A.) *''Eriochilus glareosus'' G.Brockman & C.J.French (W.A.) *''Eriochilus helonomos'' Hopper & A.P.Br. – swamp bunny orchid (W.A.) *''Eriochilus magenteus'' D.L.Jones (N.S.W., Vic., Tas.) *''Eriochilus paludosus'' D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates (S.A.) *''Eriochilus petricola'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. (N.S.W., Vic., Qld.) *''Eriochilus pulchellus'' Hopper & A.P.Br. – granite bunny orchid (W.A.) *''Eriochilus scaber'' Lindl. **''Eriochilus scaber'' Lindl. subsp. ''scaber'' – pink bunny orchid (W.A.) **''Eriochilus scaber'' subsp. ''orbifolia'' Hopper & Brown – round-leafed bunny orchid (W.A.) *''Eriochilus tenuis'' Lindl. – slender bunny orchid (W.A.) *''Eriochilus valens'' Hopper & A.P.Br. – red-lipped bunny orchid (W.A.)References
External links
* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q751477 Eriochilus, Diurideae genera Orchids of Australia