Study and Conservation of WA's wonderful Native Orchids
Pyrorchis nigricans
Fire Orchid
Has been known as Red Beaks and Elephants’ Ears
These orchids were removed from Lyperanthus (Beak Orchids) and placed in the new genus Pyrorchis. pyr (fire) + orchis (orchid) = Fire Orchid
The common name Beak Orchids no longer applies. Fire Orchids has been selected as the new common name.
Doubtful Island Rd, 3 September 2013Neaves Rd, 30 August 2015Neaves Rd, 30 August 2015Neaves Rd, 30 August 2015Eneabba, 19 August 2012Coronation Rd, 13 September 2014Ellis Brook, 19 August 2016Albany, 5 August 2016Hyden, 11 August 2017Calingiri, 7 September 2017Scaddan, 30 August 2016Stirling Range, 17 September 2020Perth hills, 5 September 2020Stirling Range, 30 August 2020Yanchep, 4 September 2020Yanchep, 4 September 2020The Lakes, 16 September 2025The Lakes, 16 September 2025The Lakes, 16 September 2025
3 Comments
Jan Pittman
After the Feb ’21 Wooroloo fires which went through my 100 acre property in Gidgegannup, which includes 90 acres of bushland (I’ve lived here for 25+ years) we found some fire orchids, for the first time. I haven’t seen them since
Ramon
Thanks for your comment – it is interesting to read about the common names in SA.
Common names are not ‘official’ names so they do tend to vary from place to place and source to source for the same species.
In WA this orchid is commonly know as The Red Beak Orchid or Elephant’s Ears and there is no real way, or need, to change that name as there would be if there was a change to its scientific name when the WA Herbarium would make that change for WA.
Steve Krasevac
In South Australia Pyrorchis nigricans are commonly known as Black Fire Orchids. Is this an official name for these orchids? If so, then can the common name “Black Fire Orchid” be used instead of “Red Beak Orchid” in WA?
After the Feb ’21 Wooroloo fires which went through my 100 acre property in Gidgegannup, which includes 90 acres of bushland (I’ve lived here for 25+ years) we found some fire orchids, for the first time. I haven’t seen them since
Thanks for your comment – it is interesting to read about the common names in SA.
Common names are not ‘official’ names so they do tend to vary from place to place and source to source for the same species.
In WA this orchid is commonly know as The Red Beak Orchid or Elephant’s Ears and there is no real way, or need, to change that name as there would be if there was a change to its scientific name when the WA Herbarium would make that change for WA.
In South Australia Pyrorchis nigricans are commonly known as Black Fire Orchids. Is this an official name for these orchids? If so, then can the common name “Black Fire Orchid” be used instead of “Red Beak Orchid” in WA?