Parson's Bands
Eriochilus cucullatus
Family Orchidaceae
About
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.
How to spot it
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 narro
Documented on these trails
Found in
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve — Canberra & Namadgi National Park hikes