Eastern bunny orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern bunny orchid |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Eriochilus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
E. d. subsp. orientalis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. orientalis Hopper & A.P.Br.
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The eastern bunny orchid (scientific name: Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. orientalis) is a special type of orchid plant. It grows only in Western Australia. This orchid has one short, smooth, egg-shaped leaf. It also has up to seven flowers that are dull green, red, and white. These flowers grow on a thick stem. You can find this orchid mainly along the coast near Caiguna.
What Does It Look Like?
The eastern bunny orchid is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also a deciduous plant, so its leaves fall off at certain times. This orchid is a herb that grows from a part called an underground tuber, like a small potato.
It has one smooth, flat, egg-shaped leaf. This leaf is about 15 to 20 mm (0.6 to 0.8 in) long and 5 to 9 mm (0.2 to 0.4 in) wide.
The orchid usually has three to five flowers, but sometimes up to seven. Each flower is about 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long and 9 to 14 mm (0.4 to 0.6 in) wide. The flowers are mostly greenish with red or purple marks. However, the side parts of the flower, called sepals, are white. These flowers are spread out along a green, fleshy stem. This stem can grow to be 150 to 260 mm (5.9 to 10 in) tall.
The special lower petal of the orchid, called the labellum, has three parts. It also has small groups of green and maroon bristles. The eastern bunny orchid blooms, or flowers, from April to May.
How It Got Its Name
The eastern bunny orchid's scientific name, Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. orientalis, was first officially described in 2006. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown, gave it this name. They found a sample of the plant near Toolina Cove, close to Caiguna.
The last part of its name, orientalis, is a Latin word. It means "of the east." This name was chosen because this type of orchid grows in the eastern part of the area where its wider group (the Eriochilus dilatatus species) is found.
Where Does It Live?
The eastern bunny orchid grows in shallow soil. You can find it on limestone cliffs and in the nearby woodlands. It lives in the area between Caiguna and Toolina Cove in Western Australia.
Is It Protected?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of special plants. They have classified the eastern bunny orchid as "Priority Three."
This means that we don't know a lot about this orchid, and it only grows in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. It's important to protect these special plants so they can continue to grow in the wild.
