Eriochilus scaber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eriochilus scaber
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eriochilus
Species:	scaber

Eriochilus scaber is a special kind of plant that belongs to the orchid family. It's found only in Western Australia, which means it's endemic there. This orchid has just one leaf and can grow up to three small flowers that are red, pink, and white. There are two main types, or subspecies, of this orchid, and they are named based on the shape of their leaf and how high it sits above the ground.

What Does This Orchid Look Like?

The Eriochilus scaber is a plant that grows from an underground tuber (like a small potato). It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years, and it's deciduous, so its leaves fall off at certain times. It has a single, smooth, yellowish-green leaf that can be egg-shaped or almost round.

The plant produces up to three flowers that are about 10 mm (0.4 in) long and wide. These flowers are red, pink, and white. They grow on a thin green stem that is about 70–150 mm (3–6 in) tall.

Each flower has different parts:

• The top sepal (a leaf-like part that protects the flower bud) is egg-shaped, about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.
• The two side sepals are wider and lance-shaped, about 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long. They are a bit hairy on the bottom.
• The petals are narrow and shaped like a spatula, about 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. They stay close to the top sepal.
• The labellum (the special lip of the orchid) is about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and has three parts. The middle part is fleshy and covered with red bristles, which makes it look a bit rough.

This orchid usually blooms from July to September.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The Eriochilus scaber was first officially described in 1840 by a botanist named John Lindley. He published his description in a book called A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.

The second part of its scientific name, scaber, comes from a Latin word that means "rough" or "scurfy." This name was chosen because of the rough, bristly surface of the flower's labellum.

There are two different types, or subspecies, of this orchid:

• Eriochilus scaber subsp. scaber is often called the pink bunny orchid. Its egg-shaped leaf usually stands up straight, about 2–12 mm (0.08–0.5 in) above the ground.
• Eriochilus scaber subsp. orbifolius is known as the round-leafed bunny orchid. This type has a leaf that is almost perfectly round and lies very close to the ground.

Where Does This Orchid Grow?

This special bunny orchid likes to grow in areas that get wet during winter. You can find it in Western Australia, stretching from Jurien Bay all the way down to the Cape Arid National Park.

The orbifolius subspecies, the round-leafed bunny orchid, is found in a smaller area. It grows only on old sand dunes near Walpole.

Is This Orchid Safe?

The Eriochilus scaber subsp. scaber (pink bunny orchid) is currently considered "not threatened," which means it's doing well and there are enough of them.

However, the orbifolius subspecies (round-leafed bunny orchid) is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means that this particular type of orchid is not very well known and is found in only a few locations. Because of this, it needs to be watched carefully to make sure it stays safe and doesn't become endangered.