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Range of Paracaleana nigrita
Range of Paracaleana nigrita.

Flying Duck Orchid
Paracaleana nigrita (J.Drumm. ex Lindl. 1840) Blaxell 1972

Synonyms

Notes

The Flying Duck Orchid is the most common and widespread species of Duck Orchid in south-western WA and is found mostly in near-coastal areas between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay. The orchids grow in a variety of different habitats and soils, including sandy clearings in forests and woodland, the edges of sandy tracks, in lateritic soil on the Darling Scarp near Perth and occasionally in mossy soil pockets on granite outcrops. The main flowering period is early to mid spring.

While the Flying Duck Orchid can be easily distinguished from most other Duck Orchids through its unique, distinctly humped labellum, more than half (typically about two thirds) of which is covered in black calli, the species is somewhat similar to Hort’s Duck Orchid (Paracaleana hortiorum) which is also found across south-western WA. The labellum of Hort’s Duck Orchid is usually more slender and not quite as strongly humped, and the black calli normally cover less than half of the length of the labellum. Both species are variable, though, making identification difficult in some cases.

Photos

Paracaleana nigrita
View of the flower. About two thirds of the length of the labellum are typically covered in black calli. (Martin, WA, 23 / 09 / 2018)
Paracaleana nigrita
The labellum of the Flying Duck Orchid is distinctly humped. (Midgegooroo NP, WA, 28 / 09 / 2014)
Paracaleana nigrita
Comparison with the size of a human thumb. (Martin, WA, 23 / 09 / 2018)
Paracaleana nigrita
The labellum is fairly broad and mostly covered in black calli. (Martin, WA, 23 / 09 / 2018)
Paracaleana nigrita
Occasionally, specimens with two flowers are found. (Flint, WA, 28 / 09 / 2014)
Paracaleana nigrita
View of the full plant. (Midgegooroo NP, WA, 28 / 09 / 2014)
Paracaleana nigrita
Flying Duck Orchids occasionally grow in mossy soil pockets on granite outcrops where they can form spectacular colonies. (Midgegooroo NP, WA, 04 / 10 / 2014)
Paracaleana nigrita
The tiny leaves look similar to those of other Duck Orchids and are often beginning to wither by the time the flowers emerge. (Midgegooroo NP, WA, 17 / 08 / 2014)

References