
Slender-leafed Duck Orchid
Paracaleana gracilicordata
Synonyms
- Caleana gracilicordata
Notes
The Slender-leafed Duck Orchid is one of the rarest orchids of Australia and is currently known from only a few locations in south-western WA, along the Darling Scarp near Perth, where it grows in mossy soil pockets on exposed granite outcrops. While similar in appearance to the rare Granite Duck Orchid (Paracaleana granitica) and the more common Flying Duck Orchid (Paracaleana nigrita), which can sometimes also be found on granite outcrops, the Slender-leafed Duck Orchid can be distinguished by its narrower leaf, smaller flowers, upward-pointing labellum and late flowering period from October until November. In addition, the glossy, black calli usually extend across less than half the length of the labellum, and both the sepals and petals are pointing forward and are almost parallel to each other.
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References
- Paracaleana gracilicordata in the Australian Plant Name Index
- Paracaleana gracilicordata in the Atlas of Living Australia
- Paracaleana gracilicordata in the Western Australian FloraBase