For the novice or beginner, orchid names can be a bit overwhelming. To add to their confusion, the more knowledgeable people tend to use abbreviated terms often switching between common and botanical names & their synonyms.
This week’s post will be a brief introduction to the most common names used for the South Australian orchids and how they relate to each other. It will not be comprehensive and it will not be a detailed discussion of orchid nomenclature but hopefully it might help the novice learn some of the names in current use.
In the past attempts have been made to split some genera. Not everyone has agreed with the splits but there are many who find it more convenient to use the alternate genus when working in the field. This tends to be the case with the larger genera such as Caladenia, Corybas and Pterostylis. Unfortunately, this has contributed to the confusion.
The names in this list are compiled from South Australia’s Native Orchids 2011 DVD. Even with this list the use of the names varies quite a bit with some being used rarely. Rather than considering each individual species, the list is centred around the genus name.
|
GENUS |
ALTERNATE GENUS NAME or SYNONYM
|
COMMON NAME |
| Acianthus | ||
|
Acianthus |
Acianthus | Mosquito |
|
Acianthus |
Nemacianthus | Mayfly |
| Caladenia | ||
|
Caladenia |
Caladenia | Pink Fairy |
|
Caladenia |
Arachnorchis | Spider |
|
Caladenia |
Jonesiopsis | Daddy Longlegs
Wispy Spider |
|
Caladenia |
Petalochilus | Pink Fingers |
|
Caladenia |
Pheladenia | Bluebeard
Blue Fairy |
|
Caladenia |
Stegostyla | Gremlin |
| Caleana | ||
|
Caleana |
Caleana | Duck |
|
Caleana |
Paracaleana | Little Duck |
| Calochilus | Bearded
Beardies |
|
| Chiloglottis | ||
|
Chiloglottis |
Chiloglottis | Bird |
|
Chiloglottis |
Myrmechila | Ant |
|
Chiloglottis |
Simpliglottis | Frog |
| Corybas | ||
|
Corybas |
Corybas | Helmet |
|
Corybas |
Corysanthes | Helmet |
|
Corybas |
Anyzbas | Pelican |
| Genoplesium | Corunastylis | Midge |
| Cryptostylis | Tongue
Moose |
|
| Cyrtostylis | Gnat | |
| Dipodium | Hyacinth | |
| Diuris | Donkey | |
| Eriochilus | Parson’s Bands
Autumn Bunnies |
|
| Gastrodia | Potato
Cinnamon Bells |
|
| Glossodia | Purple Cockatoo
Waxlip |
|
| Leporella | Fringed Hare | |
| Leptoceras | Rabbit Ears
Hare Orchid |
|
| Microtis | ||
|
Microtis |
Microtis | Onion |
|
Microtis |
Hydrorchis | Mignonette |
|
Microtis |
Microtidium | Yellow Onion |
| Orthoceras | Horned
Crucifix |
|
| Prasophyllum | Leek | |
| Pterostylis | ||
|
Pterostylis |
Pterostylis | Greenhood |
|
Pterostylis |
Bunochilus | Banded Greenhood |
|
Pterostylis |
Diplodium | Shell |
|
Pterostylis |
Hymenochilus | Tiny Shell |
|
Pterostylis |
Linguella | Little Greenhoods
Nana |
|
Pterostylis |
Oligochaetochilus | Rufoushoods |
|
Pterostylis |
Plumatochilos | Bearded Greenhood |
|
Pterostylis |
Speculantha | Tiny Greenhood |
|
Pterostylis |
Taurantha | Cobra Greenhood |
|
Pterostylis |
Urochilus | Maroonbanded Greenhood
Sanguinea Blood Greenhood |
| Pyrorchis | Fire
Undertaker |
|
| Spiranthes | Ladies Tresses
Spiral |
|
| Thelymitra | Sun Orchid |
A detailed list of SA orchid species names and their synonyms can be found here .
The following are all Pterostylis but not all of them are Greenhoods. This first image is a Pterostylis Greenhood.
This one is a Shell Orchid or alternately Diplodium
Whilst this Pterostylis is a Bearded Greenhood or Plumatochilos
The final Pterostylis example is a Rufoushood, or Oligochaetochilus
So they could all be referred to Pterostylis or any of the other possible names whether the common name or a synonym.
NOSSA 