Eriochilus helonomos
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Swamp bunny orchid
| image = Eriochilus helonomos (7226927206).jpg
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| genus = Eriochilus
| species = helonomos
| authority = Hopper & A.P.Br.{{WCSP | 346847 | Eriochilus helonomos }}
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Eriochilus helonomos, commonly known as the swamp bunny orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has a single pointed leaf and usually a single white or cream-coloured flower with reddish brown markings. A relatively common species, it usually grows in swampy places. It is distinguished from other bunny orchids by the arrangement of its petals.
Description
Eriochilus helonomos is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, egg-shaped glabrous leaf with a pointed tip, {{convert|7-17|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2-10|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. Usually only a single flower but sometimes as many as three white or cream-coloured flowers about {{convert|10|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and wide are borne on a stem, {{convert|50-150|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. The dorsal sepal is {{convert|6-8|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. The lateral sepals are {{convert|7-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and have pink markings on their underside. The petals have brownish red edges and are {{convert|6-10|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|1|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. Unlike others in the genus the petals are pressed against the sides of the column. The labellum is {{convert|6-9|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|2-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and curves downwards. It has scattered clusters of dark red and white hairs. Flowering occurs from April to July.{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories|date=2006|publisher=New Holland|location=Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.|isbn=1877069124|page =276}}{{cite journal |last1=Hopper |first1=Stephen |last2=Brown |first2=Andrew Phillip |title=New and reinstated taxa in Eriochilus |journal=Nuytsia |date=2006 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=45–47 |url=https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/science/nuytsia/449.pdf |accessdate=23 June 2018}}{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Andrew|last2=Dundas|first2=Pat|last3=Dixon|first3=Kingsley|last4=Hopper|first4=Stephen|title=Orchids of Western Australia|date=2008|publisher=University of Western Australia Press|location=Crawley, Western Australia|isbn=9780980296457|page=259}}{{cite book|last1=Hoffman|first1=Noel|last2=Brown|first2=Andrew|title=Orchids of South-West Australia.|date=2011|publisher=Noel Hoffman|location=Gooseberry Hill|isbn=9780646562322|page=229|edition=3rd}}
Taxonomy and naming
Eriochilus helonomos was first formally described in 2006 by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown from a specimen collected near Denmark and the description was published in Nuytsia.{{cite web|title=Eriochilus helonomos|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/615233|publisher=APNI|accessdate=23 June 2018}} The specific epithet (helonomos) is derived from an Ancient Greek word meaning "living in marshes",{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page =514}} referring to the usual habitat of this species.
Distribution and habitat
The swamp bunny orchid grows in swampy places and in seepage areas on granite outcrops. It is found between Dongara and Cape Riche.{{FloraBase|name=Eriochilus helonomos|id=15414}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q10273625}}
Category:Orchids of Western Australia
Category:Endemic orchids of Australia
Category:Plants described in 2006