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Flying Duck Orchid


Flying Duck Orchid
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1906 W: 107 N: 4875] (16757)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11-15
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon Powershot S2-IS
Exposure: f/4, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Flora of the Sydney region, Australia, Plants to Know, Nature's cutest [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-28 5:05
Viewed: 8524
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Perhaps one of the more unusual Australian orchids is the Large Duck Orchid (Caleana major), which superciliously looks like a flying duck.

The duck-bill shaped labellum is sensitive to the touch of an insect. The slightest touch by its chief pollinator, sawflies, causes the head to spring down trapping the sawfly briefly inside. This ensures that the insect is bathed in pollen, which of course is dutifully transported to the next orchid so that cross-fertilization is achieved.

Some texts claim that the orchid emits pheromone-like scents that resemble the female sawfly, thus guaranteeing a male is attracted.

The orchid is found on barren ridge tops of sandstone woodland and it flowers from late October to early December. The entire flower is about 20mm long and sits at the end of 40cm stem. The orchid produces a single thin leaf about 10cm long.

Thanks for looking
Argus, methos, fthsm, Silke, uleko, saeedabbasi, sayat, jmp, paulsballs, scottevers7, Pitoncle, JORAPAVI has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-02-28 5:36]

Hello Chris,
What a fine contribution to TN! This species of orchid is entirely new to me and I venture to say most TN members. Though one might say the BG is a bit disturbing, this is a sharp shot that adequately illustrates the reason for the name of this orchid.
Thanks for showing us this one!
Best wishes, Ivan

Great, useful shot!
The species is new to me!
I love the colors and the details in this picture. It does indeed look like a duck.
Useful note!

Maybe a workshop or a later post with the entire flower would be useful as well!

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 172 W: 56 N: 512] (3689)
  • [2007-02-28 6:42]

Very interesting name for a flower but it fits exactly :)
Looks beautiful with DOF and details on flowers.
TFS Chris.

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 98 N: 1707] (5458)
  • [2007-02-28 6:46]

Very aptly named little beauty and you have captured it with truly superb colours and details. Expertly handled dof and low PoV that is well worth while to show off the details of this flower
TFS
silke

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-02-28 7:01]

Hello Chris,
What a wonderful orchid with a very suitable name! Beautiful capture, pretty sharp and good colours which stand out against the background.
Very interesting notes too!
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Chris ,
excellent work.
amazing colours and nice sharpness,
very well captured.
regards
Saeed

  • Great 
  • sayat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 280 W: 0 N: 258] (1457)
  • [2007-02-28 11:01]

Hi Chris,
This is an excellent contribution, great composition and very informative note.
Thank you.
Sayat

amazing one, TFS the Australian orchids with us. Ori

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2007-02-28 16:19]

Hi Chris,
A really like this orchid. Perfect details, colours, pov, exposure and bg.
TFS, José m.

G'day Chris
I to have never been introduced to this species, nice find and well captured.
Regards Paul

Hi Chris,
These are some unique and beautiful orchids. I agree that at the right angle they resemble a duck. A nice exposure has the colors and detail looking great. Nice OOF backround from the well controled DOF. No wild orchids where I live, they cannot survie the winters.
Scott

Bonjour Chris,
Très belle composition superbement détaillée et commentée.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Hola Chris,
Una preciosa y curiosa orquidea, de verdad que parecen patos volando. Las has retratado muy bien; el fondo difuso las ayuda a destacarse bien a pesar que el fondo es algo similar a las flores y tallo.
Gracias por mostrarla.
Hernán

Hola Chris,
Preciosa y muy elegante toma, el color, nitidez y fondo son excelentes. Un cordial saludo

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