I think I saw my new favourite Australian native orchid today: the Large Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major). It is truly wonderful. I had never seen it before. It is located just across the border in NSW, about 45 minutes from my place. This species does not exist in the ACT itself. The population I saw today is the most westerly of its distribution. It is mostly found closer to the coast. It is quite an important population from that perspective. The land where it is found is currently zoned for housing development. As it is the only population in the area it is hoped the population will be saved.
I am told this is the best the population has ever flowered. There has been a lot of rain and the orchids have responded. I am sure someone will ask me, but this is not a species that is grown in cultivation. It is very difficult to maintain and I have never seen it for sale.
Large Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major)
The bottom flower has been pollinated.
You can see it here in its natural habitat.
There are about 14 species of Flying Duck Orchids, with most of them found in Western Australia. There are only two species in eastern Australia (where I am from) and believe it or not the other species was also in flower on the same hill about a kilometre away. This is the Small Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana minor). Not as showy and smaller in size. It is more common and widespread and can be found in the ACT as well.
Small Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana minor)