White bunny orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White bunny orchid |
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| Eriochilus dilatatus undulatus growing in Swan View | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eriochilus
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| Species: |
dilatatus
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The Eriochilus dilatatus, also known as the white bunny orchid, is a special plant from the orchid family. It grows only in Western Australia, meaning it is endemic there. This orchid is quite common and can be found in many places. It's a slender plant that grows from the ground. It has one leaf and can have up to fifteen small flowers. These flowers are usually white and greenish, with some reddish or brownish marks. A key feature is its hairy labellum, which is like the orchid's lip.
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What Does the White Bunny Orchid Look Like?
The Eriochilus dilatatus is a perennial herb, which means it's a plant that lives for more than two years and doesn't have a woody stem. It grows from an underground tuber, which is like a small, round storage part. It's also deciduous, so its leaves fall off during certain seasons.
When the plant is flowering, it has a single, egg-shaped leaf. This leaf is about 15 to 75 millimeters (0.6 to 3 inches) long and 5 to 15 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide. It's attached about halfway up the flowering stem. If the plant is not flowering, its leaf is usually bigger and sits on a stalk about 60 to 150 millimeters (2.4 to 6 inches) tall.
The flowering stem can grow to be 100 to 350 millimeters (4 to 14 inches) tall. It holds up to fifteen flowers, but usually more than three. Each flower is white and greenish, about 12 to 18 millimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long and 10 to 12 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) wide.
Let's look at the flower parts:
- The dorsal sepal (the top part of the flower) is shaped like a spatula. It's 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 2 to 4 millimeters (0.08 to 0.16 inches) wide.
- The lateral sepals (the side parts) are white or cream-colored. They are longer, about 7 to 20 millimeters (0.3 to 0.8 inches) long and 2.5 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.16 inches) wide.
- The petals are greenish with brownish-red stripes. They are 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide, and they stand mostly upright.
- The labellum (the orchid's lip) is greenish-cream. It's 6 to 11 millimeters (0.24 to 0.43 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.2 inches) wide. It has groups of cream-colored to light purple hairs and curves noticeably downwards.
These orchids usually bloom between March and June. Some types of this orchid flower even more after a bushfire.
Naming and Where the Orchid Lives
The scientific name Eriochilus dilatatus was first officially described in 1840 by a person named John Lindley. This description was published in a book called A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.
The second part of its name, dilatatus, comes from a Latin word. It means "spread out," "enlarge," or "extend." This name refers to the wide labellum (lip) and the wide side sepals of the flower.
This orchid is found all over Western Australia. There are six different types, or subspecies, of Eriochilus dilatatus:
- E. dilatatus subsp. dilatatus grows in areas with shrubs and trees near the coast. You can find it between Dirk Hartog Island and Israelite Bay.
- E. dilatatus subsp. brevifolius lives in shrubland between Cataby and the Murchison River.
- E. dilatatus subsp. magnus prefers places with a lot of rain, found between Perth and Albany.
- E. dilatatus subsp. multiflorus grows in woodlands and forests from Jurien Bay down to Albany.
- E. dilatatus subsp. orientalis is only found near Caiguna.
- E. dilatatus subsp. undulatus is the most common and widespread type. It grows in many different places between Mullewa and Esperance.
How the Orchid Gets Pollinated
All bunny orchids, including the white bunny orchid, are pollinated by small native bees. These bees are attracted to a sweet liquid called nectar, which is found at the base of the orchid's labellum. When the bees visit the flower for nectar, they help move pollen from one flower to another, allowing the orchids to make seeds.
Growing White Bunny Orchids at Home
If you're interested in growing orchids, Eriochilus species are generally easy to grow in pots. They do well in a bushhouse (a type of open greenhouse) or a cool glasshouse. When they are actively growing, they need to be watered regularly. However, when they are resting during the summer, they should be kept dry.
