''Caleana granitica'', commonly known as the granite duck orchid is a species of orchid that is endemic to the
south-west
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...
of Western Australia. It is a species of duck orchid with a single smooth leaf and a single greenish yellow and red flower with the labellum held below the horizontal. It grows on a single granite outcrop near Armadale.
Description
''Caleana granitica'' has a single smooth, dull green to dull red leaf, long and wide. The leaf is usually withered by flowering time. Usually only one greenish-yellow and red flower, long and wide is borne on a flowering stem high. The dorsal sepal, lateral sepals and
petal
Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s are narrow and hang downwards with the dorsal sepal pressed against the column which has broad wings, forming a bucket-like shape. The labellum has a flattened top and is held below horizontal with one-half to one-third of its outer part covered with glossy black glands or calli. Flowering occurs from October to early December.
Taxonomy and naming
The granite duck orchid was first formally described in 2006 by
Stephen Hopper
Stephen Donald Hopper AC FLS FTSE (born 18 June 1951) is a Western Australian botanist. He graduated in Biology, specialising in conservation biology and vascular plants. Hopper has written eight books, and has over 200 publications to his n ...
and Andrew Brown who gave it the name ''Paracaleana granitica'' and published the description in '' Australian Systematic Botany''. In 2014, based on molecular studies, Joseph Miller and Mark Clements transferred all the species previously in ''Paracaleana'' to ''Caleana'' so that the present species became ''Caleana granitica''. The
specific epithet
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
(''granitica'') refers to the granite outcrop where this orchid grows.
Distribution and habitat
''Caleana granitica'' grows with mosses and
lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.Jarrah Forest
biogeographic region
An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of l ...
.
Conservation
''Caleana granitica'' (as ''Paracaleana granitica'') is classified as " Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia
Department of Parks and Wildlife
The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) was the department of the Government of Western Australia responsible for managing lands described in the ''Conservation and Land Management Act 1984'' and implementing the state's conservation and e ...
, meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.