Flying Duck
Orchid (Caleana) is a small orchid can be found in eastern and southern
Australia. This is terrestrial plant features amazing flowers resembling a
duck in flight. The flower is also inducing insects, such as male sawflies
which pollinate the flower in a process recognized as pseudocopulation. In 1986
this orchid was featured on an Australian postage stamp. The flying duck
orchid encountered as a terrestrial herb, up to 50 cm tall. And 2 to 4 flowers
grow on the green stem. Furthermore the single leaf appears near the base of
the stalk. It is generally prostrate, narrow-lanceolate, to 12 cm long and 8 mm
wide, often spotted. The Flying Duck Orchid flower color is normally
reddish-brown, almost 15 to 20 mm long. However, in some rare cases, the flower
can be greenish with dark spots. The plant is pollinated by insects. A
sensitive strap is attached to the flower, which is triggered by vibration. The
plant is flowering from September to January occurring from Queensland to South
Australia, to even Tasmania, and this plant can be found in eucalyptus woodland
in coastal or swampy shrubland and heathland. Typically near the coast, but
sporadically at higher altitudes. Due to flower small size, it is a hard to
notice in the wild plant.
The duck orchid is a perpetual
but blooms in late spring or early summer. At up to 45 centimeters in
height you might think it would stand out in its natural habitat.
However, because of the reddy-brown colors of both the stem and flowers it
moulds in to its Australian surroundings so proficiently that it becomes almost
invisible unless you are purposely seeking out its company. The genus Caleana
was named after George Caley, an early botanical collector. Latin for
"larger", major refers to the contrast with the other smaller Duck
orchid, Paracaleana minor. The original specimen of this plant was gathered at
Bennelong Point, the present day site of the Sydney Opera House in September,
1803. Moreover in 1810, the species originally appeared in the scientific
literature, Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by the prolific
Scottish botanist, Robert Brown.
Therefore; Caleana has been difficult to maintain in cultivation,
because plants flower for one or sometimes two years but progressively weaken
until they die. If you’ve abruptly been gripped by the desire to own your very
own duck orchid then you will be very disappointed. Regardless of several
attempts, this orchid stubbornly refuses to be propagated. This is because the
roots of caleana have a symbiotic relationship with the vegetative part of a
fungus which only thrives in the part of Australia in which it originates. The
fungus supports the plant to stave off infections and without its assistance
the duck orchid never lasts long.
