Caleana minor

Last updated

Small duck orchid
Caleana minor 1756306.jpg
Status NZTCS NC.svg
Nationally Critical (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caleana
Species:
C. minor
Binomial name
Caleana minor
Synonyms [2]
  • Paracaleana minor(R.Br.) Blaxell
  • Caleya minor(R.Br.) Sweet
  • Paracaleana sullivanii(F.Muell.) Blaxell
  • Caleana sullivanii(F.Muell.) Pescott
  • Caleya sullivaniiF.Muell.
  • Sullivania minor(R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Caleana minor, commonly known as the small duck orchid [3] or flying duck orchid, [4] is a species of orchid native to eastern Australia and the North Island of New Zealand. It has a single reddish brown, grass-like leaf and up to four yellowish to reddish flowers on a wiry flowering stem. The sepals and petals are directed downwards near the broad column wings and the labellum is directed upwards and covered with warty glands.

Contents

Description

Caleana minor is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single reddish brown, linear leaf, 40–130 mm (2–5 in) long, 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide and folded lengthwise. The leaf is usually withered by flowering time. Up to four yellowish green to reddish brown flowers, 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 80–150 mm (3–6 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide and hang downwards forming a bucket-like shape with the broad wings of the column. The labellum is 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, covered with glossy black glands and held above the flower on a sensitive strap-like stalk about 5 mm (0.2 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to February although the flowering period is shorter in New Zealand. [3] :148 [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Caleana minor was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown from a specimen collected at Port Jackson in "sandy ground between brickfields and Barclay Lagoon". The description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . [7] [8] In 1972 Donald Blaxell changed the name to Paracaleana nigrita but the name change has not been accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families and in 1989 Mark Clements noted that none of the characters used to separate Paracaleana from Caleana is "sufficiently significant" to maintain two genera. [8] [9] The specific epithet (minor) is a Latin word meaning "less". [10]

Distribution and habitat

The small duck orchid occurs in eastern Australia and on the North Island of New Zealand. It is widespread and locally common in Australia, growing in a wide range of habitats but most commonly on ridges and slopes in forests. In Queensland, it is found south from the Carnarvon National Park. It occurs in the eastern half of New South Wales and as far west as Dubbo, throughout Victoria except in the far north-west, in the south-east of South Australia and in Tasmania. [3] [5] [11] [12]

In New Zealand the species is currently only known from Whakarewarewa near Rotorua and is regarded as "critically threatened". [1] There were two other records, one in Kaitaia and the other at Waiotapu. [4] [13] The species may be indigenous to New Zealand, although some consider it an introduced species. It may have arrived as a seed from mud on an Australian visitor's shoe. Another theory is that seeds were blown from Australia in bushfire smoke. [14]

Ecology

This orchid 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. [3] :146

Related Research Articles

<i>Caleana</i> Genus of flowering plants

Caleana, commonly known as duck orchids, is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae that is found in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian species are found in all states but have not been recorded in the Northern Territory. Duck orchids have a single leaf and one or a few, dull-coloured, inconspicuous flowers. Most species are found in Western Australia but one species occurs in eastern Australia and one occurs in eastern Australia and New Zealand. Orchids in this genus as well as the hammer orchids (Drakaea) are pollinated by male thynnid wasps.

<i>Calochilus paludosus</i> Species of orchid

Calochilus paludosus, commonly known as the red beard orchid or red beardie, is a species of orchid native to Australia and New Zealand. It has a single fleshy, light green leaf and up to nine greenish flowers with reddish stripes. The labellum has a dull red or coppery coloured beard and lacks the "eye" spots of other beard orchids.

<i>Caleana major</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

<i>Caleana nigrita</i> Species of flowering plant

Caleana nigrita, commonly known as the small duck orchid or flying duck orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is the most common of the flying duck orchids and has the widest distribution of the Western Australian species. It has a single smooth leaf and is distinguished from the others by its labellum which has a hump in the middle and calli covering two thirds of its outer end. Its dull colouration makes it difficult to find, especially in areas that are blackened by fire.

<i>Prasophyllum caudiculum</i> Species of orchid

Prasophyllum caudiculum, commonly known as the Guyra leek orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to a small area of northern New South Wales. It has a single tubular, bright green leaf and up to thirty five greenish to reddish-brown flowers crowded along an erect flowering stem. It grows in grassy places near Guyra.

<i>Genoplesium nudum</i> Species of orchid

Genoplesium nudum, commonly known as the tiny midge orchid in Australia or the red midge orchid in New Zealand, is a small terrestrial orchid native to south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to forty small, reddish-purple or green and red flowers. Australian and New Zealand authorities use the name Corunastylis nuda but Genoplesium nudum and Prasophyllum transversum are used by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.

Genoplesium pedersonii, commonly known as Pederson's midge orchid, is a species of small terrestrial orchid endemic to the Blackdown Tableland in Queensland. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to thirty small, greenish red to reddish, self-pollinating flowers with a dark purplish red labellum. The species is treated as Corunastylis pedersonii in Queensland.

Genoplesium simulans, commonly known as the Blue Mountains midge orchid is a small terrestrial orchid which is endemic to New South Wales, where it mainly occurs in the Blue Mountains. It has a single thin leaf and up to twenty three dark purplish-black flowers which lean downwards.

Corunastylis densa, commonly known as the dense midge orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single thin leaf fused to the flowering stem and up to twenty five densely crowded reddish-brown to dark purplish-brown flowers. It is found between the New England National Park and the Moroka River.

Caleana alcockii, commonly known as Alcock's duck orchid is a rare species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth leaf and is distinguished by its humped labellum and relatively late flowering period. It only occurs north of Geraldton.

<i>Caleana brockmanii</i> Species of flowering plant

Caleana brockmanii, commonly known as Brockman's duck orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth leaf, a single greenish yellow and red flower and is distinguished by its flat labellum, relatively late flowering period and calli only near the tip of the labellum. It is found south from Perth.

Caleana disjuncta, commonly known as the little duck orchid, is a species of orchid that is found in Western Australia but with a few disjunct populations in Victoria and South Australia. It has a single smooth leaf and a single greenish yellow and red flower with a flattened labellum, the calli only near its tip.

<i>Caleana dixonii</i> Species of flowering plant

Caleana dixonii, commonly known as the sandplain duck orchid is a rare species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth leaf and a single greenish yellow and fawn-coloured flower. It is distinguished by its flattened labellum with calli only near the tip of the labellum and its preference for growing on sandplains.

<i>Caleana granitica</i> Species of flowering plant

Caleana granitica, commonly known as the granite duck orchid is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a species of duck orchid with a single smooth leaf and a single greenish yellow and red flower with the labellum held below the horizontal. It grows on a single granite outcrop near Armadale.

<i>Caleana hortiorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Caleana hortiorum, commonly known as Hort's duck orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth leaf, a single greenish yellow and red flower and is distinguished by its long, narrow, slightly humped labellum, with calli on its outer half. It is found between Perth and Albany.

<i>Chiloglottis anaticeps</i> Species of orchid

Chiloglottis anaticeps, commonly known as the duck's-head wasp orchid or bird orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the New England Tableland of New South Wales. It has two narrow leaves and a single greenish brown or reddish flower with a shiny, dark green callus occupying most of the top of the labellum. One end of the callus looks like a tiny duck's head.

Caleana lyonsii, commonly known as the midget duck orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is distinguished by its single smooth narrow leaf which is usually withered by flowering time and its up to ten small, greenish flowers. It grows in harsh environments in disjunct populations between Kalbarri and Southern Cross and has the smallest flowers of its genus in Western Australia.

Caleana parvula, commonly known as the Esperance duck orchid is a species of orchid endemic to a small area near Esperance in the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth leaf and usually only a single greenish yellow and red flower. It is distinguished by its small flower with the calli only on the outer one-fifth of the labellum. The only other Caleana species in Western Australia which is smaller is C. lyonsii.

Caleana terminalis, commonly known as smooth-billed duck orchid is a species of orchid endemic to a small area near the Murchison River in the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single smooth leaf and usually only a single greenish yellow and red flower. It is distinguished by its slightly humped labellum, with calli only on its outer one fifth.

Arthrochilus oreophilus, commonly known as montane elbow orchid, is a flowering plant in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) and is endemic to higher places in far north Queensland. It has a rosette of leaves at its base and up to fifteen green, insect-like flowers with dark reddish brown glands on its labellum.

References

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  2. "Caleana". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. ISBN   1877069124.
  4. 1 2 3 de Lange, Peter J. "Caleana minor". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  5. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeff. "Caleana minor". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  6. Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN   978-0-7318-1211-0 page 241
  7. "Caleana minor". APNI. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  8. 1 2 Clements, Mark Alwyn (1989). "Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 1: 24.
  9. "Paracaleana minor". APNI. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  10. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 525.
  11. Weston, Peter H. "Paracaleana minor". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  12. "Paracaleana minor". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  13. "Caleana minor". Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  14. Jane, Graham. "Caladenia alata at Rainbow Mountain - Dispelling a Myth". New Zealand Native Orchids. New Zealand Native Orchid Group. Retrieved 13 April 2018.