Granite Duck Orchid
Paracaleana granitica
Synonyms
- Caleana granitica
Notes
The Granite Duck Orchid is one of three known species of Duck Orchid in south-western WA that grow in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops, the other two being the Slender-leafed Duck Orchid (Paracaleana gracilicordata) and the Flying Duck Orchid (Paracaleana nigrita). While quite similar in appearance to the Slender-leafed Duck Orchid, the Granite Duck Orchid is easily distinguished by its short scapes with larger flowers of slightly different colour, broader leaf (which is usually withered at the time of flowering) and the labellum which is held more or less horizontally instead of pointing upwards. The peak flowering time is November.
The Granite Duck Orchid is currently known from only a single granite outcrop on the Darling Scarp near Perth, WA, making it one of the rarest orchids in the world. The only known colony is made up of a few dozen plants scattered over just a few square metres. Due to their small size and dull colouration, Granite Duck Orchids are extremely difficult to locate, and it would therefore appear likely that additional, undiscovered populations exist on other granite outcrops across the Darling Scarp.
Photos
References
- Paracaleana granitica in the Australian Plant Name Index
- Paracaleana granitica in the Atlas of Living Australia
- Paracaleana granitica in the Western Australian FloraBase