Eriochilus cucullatus

Description

Eriochilus cucullatus, commonly known as parson's bands, or leafless parson's bands, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a common and widespread, slender ground orchid with a single leaf and up to five small white to pale pink flowers. It grows in all Australian states except Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Eriochilus cucullatus is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber. It has a single, egg-shaped, dark green, slightly rough and hairy leaf which is not fully developed until after flowering, when it is 15–35 mm (0.6–1 in) long and 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide. Up to five white to pale pink flowers 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide are borne on a slender spike, 100–250 mm (4–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is spoon-shaped to lance shaped with the narrower end towards its base, 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and forms a hood over the column. The enlarged lateral sepals are 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and white to pale pink. The petals are reddish-green, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and slightly enlarged near the tip. The labellum is white, green or yellowish, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and fleshy with tufts of short red and white hairs. Flowering occurs from December to June.