Esperance duck orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Esperance duck orchid |
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The Esperance duck orchid (scientific name: Caleana parvula) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in a small area near Esperance in the south-west of Western Australia. This means it is "endemic" to that place. It has one smooth leaf and usually just one flower. The flower is greenish-yellow and red. It is known for its small size. Its special lip-like part, called the labellum, has tiny bumps only on the outer edge. Another Caleana orchid, C. lyonsii, is even smaller in Western Australia.
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What the Esperance Duck Orchid Looks Like
The Esperance duck orchid has a single, smooth leaf. This leaf is usually dull green or dull red. It is about 10 to 30 millimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. It is also about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. Often, the leaf has dried up by the time the flower blooms.
Usually, only one flower grows on each plant. This flower is greenish-yellow and red. It is about 15 to 18 millimeters (0.6 to 0.7 inches) long. It is also about 8 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide. The flower grows on a thin, wire-like stem. This stem is about 90 to 180 millimeters (3.5 to 7.1 inches) tall.
The different parts of the flower hang downwards. These parts include the top sepal (called the dorsal sepal), the side sepals, and the petals. The dorsal sepal presses against a part called the column. This column has wide, wing-like parts. Together, they form a shape that looks a bit like a bucket.
A special part of the flower is the labellum. About one-fifth of the outer part of the labellum is covered in shiny black bumps. These bumps are called glands or calli. The labellum itself is flat. This orchid usually flowers in October and November.
How the Esperance Duck Orchid Got its Name
Scientists give plants special names. This helps everyone know exactly which plant they are talking about. The Esperance duck orchid was first officially described in 2006. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown, gave it the name Paracaleana parvula. They wrote about it in a science journal called Australian Systematic Botany. They studied a plant they found in the Cape Arid National Park.
Later, in 2014, other scientists studied the orchid's genes. Based on these studies, Joseph Miller and Mark Clements moved all the plants from the Paracaleana group into the Caleana group. This is why the orchid's name changed to Caleana parvula.
The second part of its name, parvula, comes from a Latin word. Parvus means "little." So, parvula means "rather little." This name was chosen because its flower is quite small compared to other orchids in its group.
Where the Esperance Duck Orchid Lives
The Caleana parvula orchid grows in sandy soil. It likes to live in areas with shrubs. You can find it between Condingup and Israelite Bay. These places are in a region called the Esperance Plains. This area is part of the biogeographic region of Western Australia.
Protecting the Esperance Duck Orchid
The Esperance duck orchid is a special plant. The Western Australian Government wants to protect it. Their Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified it as "Priority Two".
What does "Priority Two" mean? It means that this orchid is not very well known. It has only been found in one or a few places. Because it's rare and found in only a small area, it needs special attention to make sure it stays safe and doesn't disappear.
