Eriochilus

Eriochilus, [air-ee-o-kyle-uss] from erios, wool, and cheilos, a lip; referring to the hairy or woolly surface of lip.

A genus closely allied to Caladenia, principally represented in Western Australia, but occurring also in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. Usually hairy plants, with leaf solitary at the base of, or higher up, the stem. Flower, one or more, pink and white. Lateral sepals longer than the erect upper one. Lip shorter. Species are commonly “Parson’s Bands” or “Donkey’s Ears.” Fertilised by insects and producing seed more freely than most orchids not self-fertilised.

Eriiochilus Species in Western Australia

Eriochilus dilatatus, broad.
Stem above 6 in. Leaf at or below the middle of stem, linear-lanceolate, sessile and stem-clasping. Flowers usually one, two or three. Middle lobe of lip ovate-oblong. Mr. O. H. Sargent records having found this orchid in the York district in various soils in April and May, and that specimens with four or five flowers are common there, also that one was collected in 1905 with 13 flowers,
W.A.: Albany. Bunbury. Kalamunda, Kings Park, Perth, Swan View, York. April – June.

Eriochilus multiflorus, many-flowered.
A species with the habit and foliage of Eriochilusdilatatus, but often over 1 ft. high. Flowers smaller, white, more numerous, sometimes over 10 in a spike or raceme. Middle lobe of lip narrow-oblong. Favours gravelly slopes and is often found on burnt country when the shrubs have only a few leave showing.
W.A.: Margaret River. April

Eriochilus scaber, rough.
- see Orchid Illustration 3, no 11
Slender plants under 6 or 8 in., sometimes growing in groups of a dozen or more. Leaf radical, ovate or heart-shaped. Flowers, one to three. Lip with small erect lateral lobes, middle one nearly orbicular. Favours loamy flats.
WA.: Albany, Bayswater, Bussleton, Guildford, Highbury, Jarnadup, Margaret River, Mudijong, Parkerville, Riverton, York. JuIy – September.

Eriochilus tenuis, slender.
A very slender species, stem glabrous, 3 to 6 in. high. Single-flowered. Leaf radical, narrow.
W.A.: Guildford. May. Chester Pass, Stirling Range. September.

West Australian Orchids Series

1. West Australian Orchids
2. Orchid Illustration 1 - Caladenia
3. Orchid Illustration 2
4. Orchid Illustration 3
5. West Australian Orchid Types
6. Naming and Classification of Orchids
7. Structure, Fertilization and Reproduction of Orchids
8. Collection of Orchids
9. Glossary of Orchid Terms
10. Caladenia
11. Diuris
12. Drakea
13. Eriochilus (This post)
14. Glossodia
15. Leptoceras
16. Lyperanthus
17. Microtis
18. Prasophyllum
19. Pterostylis
20. Thelymitra

Related posts:

1. Leptoceras
2. Microtis
3. Diuris
4. Glossodia
5. Lyperanthus

Tags: eriochilus