Caleana major
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Flying duck orchid
| image = Duck off Elvina.JPG
| genus = Caleana
| species = major
| authority = R.Br.
| synonyms =
- Caleya major (R.Br.) R.Br.
}}
Caleana major, commonly known as the large duck orchid, is a small orchid found in eastern and southern Australia.Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1211-0}} page 241 This terrestrial plant features a remarkable flower, resembling a duck in flight. The flower is an attractant to insects, such as male sawflies which pollinate the flower in a process known as pseudocopulation. In 1986 this orchid was featured on an Australian postage stamp.{{cite web|title=Australian Plants on Stamps|url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/stamps/stamp.991.html|publisher=Australian National Botanic Garden|accessdate=12 April 2018}}
Caleana major is the emblem of the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.lvfieldnats.org/history |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club |language=en-AU}}
Description
Caleana major is a tuberous, perennial herb, usually growing to a height of {{convert|200-400|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} with a single reddish, narrow lance-shaped leaf, {{convert|40-130|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|4-8|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and often spotted, emerging at its base. Up to five shiny reddish brown flowers, {{convert|20-25|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|6-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide are borne on a thin, wiry flowering stem. (In rare cases, the flower can be greenish with dark spots.) The sepals and petals are {{convert|12-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and have pointed tips. The column has broad wings which the dorsal sepal and petals almost touch and the lateral sepals turn back wing-like behind the flower. The labellum is {{convert|6-8|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide and resembles the head of a duck on a strap-like "neck". Flowering occurs from September to January.{{cite web|last1=Jeanes|first1=Jeff|title=Caleana major|url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/f950ab28-4dd3-45d4-bbd1-1b01811e713a|publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria|accessdate=12 April 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Bernhardt|first1=Peter|title=Caleana major|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Caleana~major|publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney|accessdate=12 April 2018}}{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories|date=2006|publisher=New Holland|location=Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.|isbn=1877069124|page =146}}{{cite web|title=Caleana major|url=http://www.friendsoflanecovenationalpark.org.au/Flowering/Flowers/Caleana_major.htm|publisher=Friends of Lane Cove National Park Inc.|accessdate=12 April 2018|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165804/http://www.friendsoflanecovenationalpark.org.au/Flowering/Flowers/Caleana_major.htm|url-status=dead}}
Taxonomy and naming
Caleana major was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown from a specimen he collected at Port Jackson, Bennelong Point in September 1803. The description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.{{cite web|title=Caleana major|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/518513|publisher=APNI|accessdate=12 April 2018}}{{cite journal|last1=Clements|first1=Mark A.|title=Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae|journal=Australian Orchid Research|date=1989|volume=1|page=33}} The genus name (Caleana) honours George Caley, an early botanical collector{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Robert|title=Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum quas annis 1802-1805|date=1810|location=London|pages=322–329|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/21871#page/197/mode/1up|accessdate=12 April 2018}}{{cite book | last1=Elliot | first1=Rodger W. | last2=Jones | first2=David L. | last3=Blake | first3=Trevor |title=Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Vol. 2|year=1985|page=408 |publisher=Lothian Press |location=Port Melbourne |isbn=0-85091-143-5}} and the specific epithet (major) is a Latin word meaning "large" or "great".{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|authorlink1=Roland W. Brown|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page =461}}
Distribution and habitat
The flying duck orchid occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania,{{cite web |title=Australian Orchids in New Zealand, National Library of New Zealand|url=http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_24/rsnz_24_00_003710.html}} growing in eucalyptus woodland, coastal or swampy shrubland and heathland. Mostly near the coast, but occasionally at higher altitudes.
Ecology
The plant is pollinated by insects. The labellum is held above the flower by a sensitive strap-like stalk. When touched, the labellum turns rapidly downward, trapping a visiting insect between the labellum and column wings.{{cite book |author1=Fairley, Alan |author2=Moore, Philip |title=Native Plants of the Sydney Region: An Identification Guide |year=2010 |edition= 3rd|publisher=Jacana Books (Allen & Unwin) |page=563|location=Crows Nest, NSW |isbn=978-1-74175-571-8}}
Cultivation
References
{{Reflist|32em}}
External links
- {{Commons-inline|2=Caleana major}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2933761}}
Category:Endemic orchids of Australia
Category:Orchids of New South Wales
Category:Orchids of South Australia
Category:Orchids of Victoria (state)