Smooth-billed duck orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smooth-billed duck orchid |
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The smooth-billed duck orchid (scientific name: Caleana terminalis) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in a small area near the Murchison River in Western Australia. This orchid has a smooth leaf and usually one colorful flower. Its flower is greenish-yellow and red. A unique part of this orchid is its "lip" (called a labellum). This lip is slightly humped. It has tiny bumps, called calli, only on its very end.
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What Does the Smooth-Billed Duck Orchid Look Like?
The smooth-billed duck orchid has one smooth leaf. The leaf can be dull green or dull red. It is about 20 to 30 millimeters (about 1 inch) long. The leaf is also about 5 to 7 millimeters wide. Unlike many other orchids, its leaf stays green when the flower blooms.
The Unique Flower of the Orchid
Usually, only one flower grows on each plant. The flower is greenish-yellow and red. It is about 15 to 22 millimeters long. The flower is also about 10 to 14 millimeters wide. It grows on a thin, wire-like stem. This stem can be 80 to 140 millimeters (about 3 to 5.5 inches) tall.
The top part of the flower (dorsal sepal) hangs down. The side parts (lateral sepals) and petals also hang down. The top sepal presses against a part called the column. This forms a shape like a small bucket. About one-fifth of the orchid's lip (labellum) has shiny black bumps. These bumps are called glands or calli. The top of the labellum is also slightly humped. This orchid usually flowers in August and September.
How the Smooth-Billed Duck Orchid Got Its Name
The smooth-billed duck orchid was first officially described in 2006. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown, named it Paracaleana terminalis. They published their description in a science journal. This happened after they found a sample near the Z Bend in the Murchison River Gorge. This area is close to Kalbarri.
Changing the Orchid's Scientific Name
Later, in 2014, other scientists studied the orchid's DNA. Based on these studies, Joseph Miller and Mark Clements moved this orchid to a different group. They changed its name to Caleana terminalis. The second part of its name, terminalis, is a Latin word. It means "of ends or boundaries." This name refers to the tiny bumps (calli) found only at the very tip of the orchid's lip.
Where the Smooth-Billed Duck Orchid Lives
The smooth-billed duck orchid grows in sandy soil. It lives in areas with shrubs. You can find it between the Pinjarega Nature Reserve and Nerren Nerren station. This area is part of the Geraldton Sandplains region in Western Australia.
Protecting the Smooth-Billed Duck Orchid
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife checks on this orchid. They have classified Caleana terminalis as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
