From -Earth Unreal & Wikipedia,
Edited by -Vinuri Randula Silva,
Caleana major, commonly known as the large duck orchid, is a small orchid found in eastern and southern Australia. 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
Caleana
major is a tuberous, perennial herb, usually growing to a height of
200–400 mm (8–20 in) with a single reddish, narrow lance-shaped leaf,
40–130 mm (2–5 in) long, 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and often
spotted, emerging at its base. Up to five shiny reddish brown flowers,
20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) 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 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) 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 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and
5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide and resembles the head of a duck on a
strap-like "neck". Flowering occurs from September to January
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. The genus name (Caleana)
honours George Caley, an early botanical collector and the specific epithet (major) is a Latin word meaning "large" or
"great".
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.
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