I found a couple of these down Scott road on Sunday afternoon. Just off the Vasse highway. At first I…
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.


















Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 at 4:11 pm |
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
Wednesday, February 8th 2023 at 4:55 pm |
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.
Wednesday, February 8th 2023 at 2:30 pm |
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?