Eriochilus

Eriochilus, commonly known as bunny orchids, is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae that is endemic to Australia. Orchids in this genus are distinguished from those in the similar Caladenia by having a glabrous leaf and a densely woolly labellum. Species occur in south-west Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania. Their common name alludes to their prominent ear-like lateralsepals.

Orchids in the genus Eriochilus are terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herbs usually with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and a roughly spherical, succulenttuber. Replacement tubers form at the end of short "droppers". There is a single, glabrous, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaf either at the base, or in the middle of the flowering stem.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

The inflorescence is a raceme with up to 25 resupinate flowers, each with a small bract at the base of its stalk. The dorsalsepal is smaller than the other two sepals, is dished and erect but curves forward to form a hood over the labellum. The lateral sepals are much longer, broader and more conspicuous than the dorsal sepal and are white to pink and spreading. As is usual in orchids, one petal is highly modified as the central labellum. The other two petals are usually smaller and narrower than the sepals and are either erect, spreading or curved backwards towards the ovary. The base of the labellum partly surrounds the lower part of the column forming a tube while the front is strongly curved downwards, covered with glandular hairs and often spotted. The sexual parts of the flower are fused to the column, which is erect, short, weakly curved and has narrow, wing-like structures. Bunny orchids flower from late winter to early summer, depending on species. The fruit that follows flowering is a non-fleshy, dehiscentcapsule containing up to 500 seeds.^{[2][4][5][6][7]}

The genus Eriochilus was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.^[8][9] The botanical name Eriochilus is derived from the Ancient Greek words ἔριον erion meaning "wool"^[10]:864 and χεῖλος cheilos meaning lip^[10]:486 referring to the hairy labellum.^[2]

En Australia Occidental se encuentran diez especies de orquídeas conejo, que habitan diversos ecosistemas, desde zonas pantanosas en invierno hasta bosques secos del interior . Se distribuyen desde el norte de Kalbarri hasta Israelite Bay, en la costa sur. ^{[ 2 ]} Tres especies se encuentran en el sureste de Australia Meridional, incluyendo la península de Eyre y la península de Yorke . ^{[ 6 ] [ 11 ]} Dos especies se encuentran en Victoria, ^{[ 7 ]} tres en Nueva Gales del Sur. También se encuentran orquídeas conejo en Queensland y Tasmania. ^{[ 5 ]}

La siguiente es una lista de especies reconocidas por Plants of the World Online a partir de abril de 2025. ^{[ 12 ]}

• Eriochilus collinus DL Jones y RJBates (SA)
  • Eriochilus collinus D.L.Jones y RJBates subsp. collinus (SA)
  • Eriochilus collinus subsp. sericeus R.J.Bates (SA)
• Eriochilus cucullatus (Labill.) Rchb.f. – bandas de parson (SA, NSW, Vic., Qld. Tas.)
• Eriochilus dilatatus Lindl.
  • Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. brevifolius (Benth.) Hopper & APBr. – orquídea conejo de hojas romas (WA)
  • Eriochilus dilatatus Lindl. subsp. dilatatus – orquídea conejo blanco (WA)
  • Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. magnus Hopper & APBr. – Orquídea del conejo de Pascua (WA)
  • Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. multiflorus (Lindl.) Hopper & APBr. – orquídea conejo común (WA)
  • Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. orientalis Hopper & APBr. – orquídea conejo oriental (WA)
  • Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. undulatus Hopper & APBr. – orquídea conejo de hojas rizadas (WA)
• Eriochilus glareosus G.Brockman y CJFrench (WA)
• Eriochilus helonomos Hopper & APBr. – orquídea conejo de pantano (WA)
• Eriochilus magenteus DLJones (Nueva Gales del Sur, Victoria, Tasmania)
• Eriochilus paludosus DL Jones y RJBates (SA)
• Eriochilus petricola DL Jones y MAClem. (Nueva Gales del Sur, Vic., Queensland)
• Eriochilus pulchellus Hopper y APBr. – orquídea conejita de granito (WA)
• Eriochilus scaber Lindl.
  • Eriochilus scaberLindl. subsp. scaber – pink bunny orchid (W.A.)
  • Eriochilus scaber subsp. orbifoliaHopper & Brown – round-leafed bunny orchid (W.A.)
• Eriochilus tenuisLindl. – slender bunny orchid (W.A.)
• Eriochilus valensHopper & A.P.Br. – red-lipped bunny orchid (W.A.)

• Media related to Eriochilus at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Eriochilus at Wikispecies