Kingdom Plantae Family Orchidaceae Genus Paracaleana | Order Asparagales Tribe Diurideae Rank Species | |
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Similar Paracaleana, Orthoceras strictum, Calochilus paludosus, Gastrodia sesamoides, Pheladenia | ||
Paracaleana minor, the small duck orchid may be seen in New Zealand and in eastern and southern Australia. It grows in the same habitat and resembles the somewhat larger flying duck orchid. However, these plants are seldom noticed because of their small size. The habitat varies, usually it is seen in open country, in rocky areas, on sloping ground. Often with grasses and smaller trees. Like the flying duck orchid, it may be noticed growing at the base of eucalyptus trees. The orchid flower is structured for insect pollination. Though some populations set viable seeds asexually.
The original specimen of this plant was collected at Sydney in 1803. In 1810, the species originally appeared as Caleya minor in the scientific literature, Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown. In 1972 it was transferred to the genus Paracaleana by Donald Blaxell.
Distribution
Paracaleana minor is listed as native to New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and the North Island of New Zealand.
It is rare or nearly extinct in New Zealand. It is known at only one site near Rotorua, (the Whakarewarewa geothermal field). Here it grows in an open mossy site, with bare clay and shallow leaf litter. An associated plant is the low growing myrtle plant: Kunzea ericoides var. microflora.
This species may be indigenous to New Zealand, although some consider it an introduced species. It may have arrived as a seed from mud on an Australian visitor's shoe. Another theory is that seeds were blown from Australia in bushfire smoke. There were two other records in New Zealand; in Kaitaia and at Waiotapu.