# Pyrorchis

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pyrorchis
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pyrorchis.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrorchis
> Source revision: 1349138199
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Genus of flowering plants

Beak orchids Pyrorchis nigricans growing near Bertram, W.A. Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Orchidoideae Tribe: Diurideae Subtribe: Megastylidinae Genus: Pyrorchis D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

***Pyrorchis***, commonly known as **beak orchids**, is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [flowering plants](/source/Flowering_plant) in the orchid family, [Orchidaceae](/source/Orchidaceae) and is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Australia](/source/Australia). It contains two species which were previously included in the genus *[Lyperanthus](/source/Lyperanthus)*, also known as beak orchids. Both species have fleshy, oval leaves and form colonies which flower profusely after bushfires.

## Description

Orchids in the genus *Pyrorchis* are [terrestrial](/source/Terrestrial_plant), [perennial](/source/Perennial_plant), [deciduous](/source/Deciduous), [sympodial](/source/Sympodial) herbs with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and an oval-shaped [tuber](/source/Tuber) lacking a protective [sheath](/source/Tunica_(biology)). Replacement tubers are formed on the end of long, thin root-like [stolons](/source/Stolon). There are between one and three broad, fleshy, egg-shaped to heart-shaped leaves at the base of the plant. The leaves are 2–14 cm (0.8–6 in) long, 2–8 cm (0.8–3 in) wide and bright green, sometimes with black markings.[1][2][3][4][5]

There are up to eight [resupinate](/source/Resupination#Orchidaceae) [flowers](/source/Flower) on a stalk 10–30 cm (4–10 in) high. The stalk is often surrounded by two or three loose, leaf-like [bracts](/source/Bract) up to 4 cm (2 in) long. The [dorsal](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dorsal) [sepal](/source/Sepal) is lance-shaped, about 20 mm (0.8 in) long and forms a hood over the [column](/source/Column_(botany)). The [lateral](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lateral) sepals are about the same length and the same size and shape as the petals. As is usual in orchids, one petal is highly modified as the central [labellum](/source/Labellum_(botany)). The labellum is gently curved near its base where it encloses the base of the [column](/source/Column_(botany)) but more strongly curved near its tip, which is deeply fringed. The column is about 12 mm (0.5 in), straight or gently curved with the [anther](/source/Stamen) at its tip. Flowering occurs between August and early December, depending on species and the fruit that follows flowering is a non-fleshy, [dehiscent](/source/Dehiscence_(botany)) [capsule](/source/Capsule_(botany)) containing up to 500 seeds.[1][2][3][4][5]

*P. nigricans*

labelled image

## Taxonomy and naming

[Robert Brown](/source/Robert_Brown_(Scottish_botanist_from_Montrose)) first formally described *Lyperanthus nigricans* in 1810, publishing the description in *[Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae](/source/Prodromus_Florae_Novae_Hollandiae)*.[6][7] In 1994, [David Jones](/source/David_Lloyd_Jones_(botanist)) and [Mark Clements](/source/Mark_Alwin_Clements) described the genus *Pyrorchis* and included the species that Brown had described.[8][9] The name "*Pyrorchis*" is derived from the [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) word *pyr* meaning "fire"[10]: 331 and *orchis* meaning "orchid".[10]: 577[9]

There are two species:

- *[Pyrorchis forrestii](/source/Pyrorchis_forrestii)* ([F.Muell.](/source/Ferdinand_von_Mueller)) [D.L.Jones](/source/David_Lloyd_Jones_(botanist)) & [M.A.Clem.](/source/M.A.Clem.) – pink beaks (Western Australia)

- *[Pyrorchis nigricans](/source/Pyrorchis_nigricans)* ([R.Br.](/source/Robert_Brown_(Scottish_botanist_from_Montrose))) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – red beaks, elephants' ears ([N.S.W.](/source/New_South_Wales), [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)), [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania), [South Australia](/source/South_Australia), [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia) and [A.C.T.](/source/Australian_Capital_Territory))[1][4]

## Distribution and habitat

*Pyrorchis forrestii* is only found in the south-west of [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia) between [Augusta](/source/Augusta%2C_Western_Australia) and [Waychinicup National Park](/source/Waychinicup_National_Park) where it grows near the margins of swamps or near creeks.[1] *Pyrorchis nigricans* occurs much more widely, growing in [N.S.W.](/source/New_South_Wales), [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)), [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania), [South Australia](/source/South_Australia), and the [A.C.T.](/source/Australian_Capital_Territory) in a range of moist habitats. In drier areas of Western Australia, it is usually found in moist places near [granite](/source/Granite) outcrops.[4][5][11]

## Ecology

Both species of *Pyrorchis* produce small amounts of nectar and have a strong, sweet smell, especially in hot weather, suggesting pollination by bees although only *P. forrestii* has brightly coloured flowers. Both species flower profusely after fire, sometimes after other kinds of disturbance such as [mowing](/source/Mower), otherwise only one or two are seen after hot summer days.[2][12][13]

## Conservation

Both species of *Pyrorchis* are classified as "Not Threatened" by the Western Australian Government [Department of Parks and Wildlife](/source/Department_of_Parks_and_Wildlife_(Western_Australia)).[14][15]

## See also

- [List of Orchidaceae genera](/source/List_of_Orchidaceae_genera)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hoffman_1-3) Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). *Orchids of South-West Australia* (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. pp. 264–267. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780646562322](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780646562322).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Orchids_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Orchids_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Orchids_2-2) Pridgeon, Alec M.; Cribb, Phillip J.; Chase; Rasmussen, Finn, eds. (2001). *Genera Orchidacearum, Volume 2, Orchidoideae (part 1)*. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. pp. 170–172. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0198507100](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0198507100).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FloraBase_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FloraBase_3-1) ["*Pyrorchis*"](https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/21295). *[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_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RBGS_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RBGS_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-RBGS_4-3) Weston, Peter. ["*Pyrorchis nigricans*"](http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Pyrorchis~nigricans). Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RBGV_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RBGV_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RBGV_5-2) Jeanes, Jeff. ["*Pyrorchis*"](http://data.rbg.vic.gov.au/vicflora/flora/taxon/1617dd7c-7595-4e03-9fbe-d012a207fd32). Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Vicflora. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APNI(1)_6-0)** ["*Lyperanthus nigricans*"](http://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/528223). APNI. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Brown_7-0)** Brown, Robert (1810). [*Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae (Vol. 1)*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/21771#page/195/mode/1up). London. p. 325. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APNI_8-0)** ["*Pyrorchis nigricans*"](http://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/575483). APNI. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jones_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jones_9-1) Jones, David L.; Clements, Mark A. (1994). ["Pyrorchis, a new genus of Orchidaceae from Australia"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47129#page/28/mode/1up). *Phytologia*. **77** (6): 448–449. Retrieved 5 July 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-efloraSA_11-0)** ["*Lyperanthus nigricans*"](http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?form=speciesfacts&name=Lyperanthus_nigricans). State Herbarium of South Australia: efloraSA. Retrieved 6 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Archer_12-0)** Archer, William (19 July 2008). ["*Pyrorchis nigricans*"](http://esperancewildflowers.blogspot.com.au/2008/07/red-beaks-pyrorchis-nigricans.html). Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Vicflora_13-0)** ["*Pyrorchis*"](http://data.rbg.vic.gov.au/vicflora/flora/taxon/1617dd7c-7595-4e03-9fbe-d012a207fd32). Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Vicflora. Retrieved 6 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FloraBase(1)_14-0)** ["*Pyrorchis forrestii*"](https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/16368). *[FloraBase](/source/FloraBase)*. Western Australian Government [Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions](/source/Department_of_Biodiversity%2C_Conservation_and_Attractions).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FloraBase(2)_15-0)** ["*Pyrorchis nigricans*"](https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/16367). *[FloraBase](/source/FloraBase)*. Western Australian Government [Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions](/source/Department_of_Biodiversity%2C_Conservation_and_Attractions).

## External links

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

- [Retired Aussies, *Pyrorchis nigricans*, Undertaker Orchid](http://www.retiredaussies.com/ColinsHome%20Page/Orchids/Pyrorchis/Pyrorchis%20nigricans%20Undertaker%20Orchid%202006.htm)

Taxon identifiers Pyrorchis Wikidata: Q3292390 Wikispecies: Pyrorchis APNI: 138934 BOLD: 432107 CoL: 8W2Y9 EoL: 108573 FloraBase: 21294 GBIF: 2791575 GRIN: 17684 iNaturalist: 323961 IPNI: 982715-1 IRMNG: 1269592 NCBI: 152907 Open Tree of Life: 288212 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:982715-1 Tropicos: 50096532 VicFlora: 1617dd7c-7595-4e03-9fbe-d012a207fd32 WFO: wfo-4000032308

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