# Eriochilus

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Genus of orchids

Bunny orchids Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. undulatus Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Orchidoideae Tribe: Diurideae Subtribe: Caladeniinae Genus: Eriochilus R.Br. Synonyms[1] Eriochilum Ritgen

***Eriochilus***, commonly known as **bunny orchids**, is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [flowering plants](/source/Flowering_plant) in the orchid family, [Orchidaceae](/source/Orchidaceae) that is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Australia](/source/Australia). Orchids in this genus are distinguished from those in the similar *[Caladenia](/source/Caladenia)* by having a [glabrous](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/glabrous) leaf and a densely woolly [labellum](/source/Labellum_(botany)). Species occur in south-west [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia), [South Australia](/source/South_Australia), [Queensland](/source/Queensland), [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales), the [Australian Capital Territory](/source/Australian_Capital_Territory), [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)), and [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania). Their common name alludes to their prominent ear-like [lateral](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lateral) [sepals](/source/Sepal).

Labelled image of *[E. cucullatus](/source/Eriochilus_cucullatus)*

## Description

Orchids in the genus *Eriochilus* are terrestrial, [perennial](/source/Perennial_plant), [deciduous](/source/Deciduous), [sympodial](/source/Sympodial) herbs usually with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and a roughly spherical, [succulent](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/succulent) [tuber](/source/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.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

The [inflorescence](/source/Inflorescence) is a [raceme](/source/Raceme) with up to 25 [resupinate](/source/Resupination#Orchidaceae) flowers, each with a small [bract](/source/Bract) at the base of its stalk. The [dorsal](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dorsal) [sepal](/source/Sepal) is smaller than the other two sepals, is dished and erect but curves forward to form a hood over the labellum. The [lateral](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/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](/source/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](/source/Column_(botany)) forming a tube while the front is strongly curved downwards, covered with [glandular](/source/Gland_(botany)) hairs and often spotted. The sexual parts of the flower are fused to the [column](/source/Column_(botany)), 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, [dehiscent](/source/Dehiscence_(botany)) [capsule](/source/Capsule_(botany)) containing up to 500 seeds.[2][4][5][6][7]

## Taxonomy and naming

The genus *Eriochilus* was first formally described in 1810 by [Robert Brown](/source/Robert_Brown_(Scottish_botanist_from_Montrose)) and the description was published in *[Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae](/source/Prodromus_Florae_Novae_Hollandiae)*.[8][9] The botanical name *Eriochilus* is derived from the [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) words ἔριον *erion* meaning "wool"[10]: 864 and χεῖλος *cheilos* meaning lip[10]: 486 referring to the hairy labellum.[2]

## 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](/source/Woodland). They occur from north of [Kalbarri](/source/Kalbarri%2C_Western_Australia) to [Israelite Bay](/source/Israelite_Bay%2C_Western_Australia) on the south coast.[2] Three species are found in the south-east of South Australia, including the [Eyre Peninsula](/source/Eyre_Peninsula) and [Yorke Peninsula](/source/Yorke_Peninsula).[6][11] Two species are found in Victoria,[7] three in New South Wales. Bunny orchids are also found in Queensland and Tasmania.[5]

## Species list

The following is a list of species recognised by [Plants of the World Online](/source/Plants_of_the_World_Online) as of April 2025.[12]

- *[Eriochilus collinus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eriochilus_collinus&action=edit&redlink=1)* 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](/source/Eriochilus_cucullatus)* (Labill.) Rchb.f. – parson's bands (S.A., N.S.W., Vic., Qld. Tas.)

- *[Eriochilus dilatatus](/source/Eriochilus_dilatatus)* Lindl. - [*Eriochilus dilatatus* subsp. *brevifolius*](/source/Eriochilus_dilatatus_subsp._brevifolius) (Benth.) Hopper & A.P.Br. – blunt-leaved bunny orchid (W.A.) - [*Eriochilus dilatatus* Lindl. subsp. *dilatatus*](/source/Eriochilus_dilatatus_subsp._dilatatus) – white bunny orchid (W.A.) - [*Eriochilus dilatatus* subsp. *magnus*](/source/Eriochilus_dilatatus_subsp._magnus) Hopper & A.P.Br. – Easter bunny orchid (W.A.) - [*Eriochilus dilatatus* subsp. *multiflorus*](/source/Eriochilus_dilatatus_subsp._multiflorus) (Lindl.) Hopper & A.P.Br. – common bunny orchid (W.A.) - [*Eriochilus dilatatus* subsp. *orientalis*](/source/Eriochilus_dilatatus_subsp._orientalis) Hopper & A.P.Br. – eastern bunny orchid (W.A.) - [*Eriochilus dilatatus* subsp. *undulatus*](/source/Eriochilus_dilatatus_subsp._undulatus) Hopper & A.P.Br. – crinkle-leafed bunny orchid (W.A.)

- *[Eriochilus glareosus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eriochilus_glareosus&action=edit&redlink=1)* G.Brockman & C.J.French (W.A.)

- *[Eriochilus helonomos](/source/Eriochilus_helonomos)* Hopper & A.P.Br. – swamp bunny orchid (W.A.)

- *[Eriochilus magenteus](/source/Eriochilus_magenteus)* D.L.Jones (N.S.W., Vic., Tas.)

- *[Eriochilus paludosus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eriochilus_paludosus&action=edit&redlink=1)* D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates (S.A.)

- *[Eriochilus petricola](/source/Eriochilus_petricola)* D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. (N.S.W., Vic., Qld.)

- *[Eriochilus pulchellus](/source/Eriochilus_pulchellus)* Hopper & A.P.Br. – granite bunny orchid (W.A.)

- *[Eriochilus scaber](/source/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](/source/Eriochilus_tenuis)* Lindl. – slender bunny orchid (W.A.)

- *[Eriochilus valens](/source/Eriochilus_valens)* Hopper & A.P.Br. – red-lipped bunny orchid (W.A.)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kew_1-0)** ["*Eriochilus*"](http://wcsp.science.kew.org/namedetail.do?name_id=71677). *[World Checklist of Selected Plant Families](/source/World_Checklist_of_Selected_Plant_Families) (WCSP)*. [Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew](/source/Royal_Botanic_Gardens%2C_Kew).[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_2-3) Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). *Orchids of South-West Australia* (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. pp. 220–231. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780646562322](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780646562322).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Orchids_3-0)** Pridgeon, Alec M.; Cribb, Phillip J.; Chase, Mark W.; Rasmussen, Finn, eds. (2001). *Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 2, Orchidoideae (part 1)*. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. pp. 113–115. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0198507100](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0198507100).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FloraBase_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FloraBase_4-1) ["*Elythranthera*"](https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/21277). *[FloraBase](/source/FloraBase)*. Western Australian Government [Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions](/source/Department_of_Biodiversity%2C_Conservation_and_Attractions).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RBGS_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RBGS_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RBGS_5-2) Bernhardt, Peter. ["*Eriochilus*"](http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Eriochilus). Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-efloraSA_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-efloraSA_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-efloraSA_6-2) ["*Eriochilus*"](http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?form=speciesfacts&family=&genus=Eriochilus&species=&iname=&submit=Display). State Herbarium of South Australia: efloraSA. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RBGV_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RBGV_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RBGV_7-2) ["*Eriochilus*"](http://data.rbg.vic.gov.au/vicflora/flora/taxon/ca9341a1-a823-4e1c-8d49-d14e16dda00f). Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APNI(1)_8-0)** ["*Eriochilus*"](https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/instance/apni/510619). APNI. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-R.Br._9-0)** Brown, Robert (1810). [*Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/21771#page/193/mode/1up). London. p. 323. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RWB_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RWB_10-1) Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). *The Composition of Scientific Words*. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ALA_11-0)** ["*Eriochilus*"](http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Eriochilus). Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-POWO_12-0)** ["*Eriochilus*"](https://powo.science.kew.org/results?f=accepted_names&q=Eriochilus). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 22 April 2025.

## External links

- Media related to [*Eriochilus*](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Eriochilus) at Wikimedia Commons

- Data related to [*Eriochilus*](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Search/Eriochilus) at Wikispecies

Taxon identifiers Eriochilus Wikidata: Q751477 Wikispecies: Eriochilus APNI: 89491 BOLD: 431557 CoL: 8VXGM eFloraSA: Eriochilus EoL: 29228 FloraBase: 21277 FoAO2: Eriochilus GBIF: 2791964 GRIN: 4390 iNaturalist: 148235 IPNI: 29443-1 IRMNG: 1280792 NCBI: 78766 Open Tree of Life: 239538 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:29443-1 Tropicos: 40005195 VicFlora: ca9341a1-a823-4e1c-8d49-d14e16dda00f WFO: wfo-4000013816

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Eriochilus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriochilus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriochilus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.