About Eriochilus scaber Lindl.
Eriochilus scaber Lindl. is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous herb that grows from an underground tuber. It produces a single glabrous, yellowish green leaf that ranges in shape from egg-shaped to almost round. Up to three red, pink, and white flowers, each about 10 millimetres (0.4 inches) long and wide, grow on a thin green stem that stands 70 to 150 millimetres (3 to 6 inches) tall. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, with its narrower end toward the base. It measures 6 to 8 millimetres (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimetres (0.08 to 0.1 inches) wide. The lateral sepals are broadly lance-shaped, 8 to 12 millimetres (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long, 3 to 5 millimetres (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide, and hairy on the lower side. The petals are narrow spatula-shaped, 5 to 8 millimetres (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long, about 2 millimetres (0.08 inches) wide, and held close to the dorsal sepal. The labellum is 6 to 8 millimetres (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long, about 3 millimetres (0.1 inches) wide, and divided into three lobes. The middle lobe is 2.5 to 3.5 millimetres (0.098 to 0.14 inches) long, fleshy, and covered in red bristles. Flowering occurs from July to September. This species, commonly called bunny orchid, grows in winter-wet habitats between Jurien Bay and Cape Arid National Park. Its subspecies Eriochilus scaber subsp. orbifolius is restricted to a small area of old sand dunes near Walpole.
