Alcock's duck orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alcock's duck orchid |
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Caleana alcockii, also known as Alcock's duck orchid, is a very rare and special type of orchid. It is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This unique flower has a single smooth leaf. It is easy to spot because of its humped "lip" (called a labellum) and because it blooms later in the year. You can only find this orchid growing north of Geraldton.
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What Alcock's Duck Orchid Looks Like
Alcock's duck orchid has one smooth leaf that can be green or red. This leaf is usually about 2 to 3 centimetres (0.8 to 1.2 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.2 centimetres (0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide.
Usually, only one flower grows on each plant. The flower is greenish-yellow and red. It is about 2 centimetres (0.8 inches) long and 1 centimetre (0.4 inches) wide. The flower sits on a thin, wire-like stalk that is about 8 to 16 centimetres (3 to 6 inches) tall.
The top part of the flower (called the dorsal sepal) and the side parts (lateral sepals and petals) are narrow. They hang downwards. The dorsal sepal presses against a part of the flower called the column. This forms a shape like a small bucket.
A special part of the flower, the labellum (or lip), has a big hump in its middle. About one-third of the outer part of this labellum is covered with shiny black bumps. These bumps are called glands or calli. Alcock's duck orchid flowers from September to October.
How Alcock's Duck Orchid Got Its Name
Alcock's duck orchid was first officially described in 2006. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown, gave it the name Paracaleana alcockii. They published their description in a science journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
Later, in 2014, other scientists named Joseph Miller and Mark Clements studied the plant's genes. They found that all species previously in Paracaleana should actually be part of the Caleana group. So, the orchid's name was changed to Caleana alcockii. The second part of its name, alcockii, honors John Alcock. He was the person who first realized this orchid was a unique and different species.
Where Alcock's Duck Orchid Lives
Caleana alcockii grows in sandy soil. It is often found near grasses or plants called sedges. This orchid lives in a small area north of the Murchison River. This region is part of the Geraldton Sandplains area in Western Australia.
Protecting Alcock's Duck Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Caleana alcockii as "Priority Two". This means it is a poorly known species. It is found in only one or a few locations. This classification helps protect this rare and special orchid.
