Description: Terrestrial herbs, sympodial; tuberoids globose. Leaf solitary, ovate, basal or with an extended petiole sheathing the flowering stem, blade sometimes not fully expanded at flowering.
Inflorescence a raceme or ending in a solitary flower; each flower subtended by a small, sheathing bract; flowers resupinate, whitish pink to purplish crimson. Dorsal sepal embracing, but not concealing the entire column. Lateral sepals clawed, the laminas distinctly longer and broader than the lateral petals; lateral petals narrow, spreading to reflexed. Labellum claw concave and trough-like, embracing the column; labellum lamina strongly recurved to convex, with 3 weakly differentiated lobes, irregularly ovate, hairy to ciliate, sometimes spotted. Column short and weakly curved, wings absent or reduced to narrow rims. Anther prominent, erect to incumbent; stigma a broad, gap-like slit.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 6 species, endemic Australia. Australia: all States except N.T.
Text by P. Bernhardt Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Eriochilus cucullatus complex
| Key to the species | |
1 | Leaf bright green and shiny; flower bright magenta pink; grows at altitude 1000–1500 metres above sea level | Eriochilus magenteus |
| Leaf dark green, smooth or ridged; flower usually white (however a pink form in Nothern Tablelands); grows at altitude 0–800 metres above sea level | Eriochillus cucullatus species complex |
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