Caleana major

Flying duck orchid
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caleana
Species:
C. major
Binomial name
Caleana major
Synonyms
  • Caleya major (R.Br.) R.Br.

Caleana major, commonly known as the large duck orchid,[1] is a small orchid found in eastern and southern Australia.[2] This terrestrial plant features a remarkable flower, resembling a duck in flight. The flower is an attractant to insects, such as male sawflies which pollinate the flower in a process known as pseudocopulation.[2] In 1986 this orchid was featured on an Australian postage stamp.[3]

Caleana major is the emblem of the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference RBGV was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 241
  3. ^ "Australian Plants on Stamps". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  4. ^ "History". Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club. Retrieved 2024-02-27.