Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major)
This fowl orchid is just too cute! Native to Australia, this orchidβs unique shape helps increase its pollination. Sawflies are attracted to its scent and land on the βbillβ, where their weight forces them down and inside the flower, temporarily curling the βbillβ down and in. From there, the only way out is through a pollen-laden section of the flower where the sawfly finds and then emerges from. Youβd think such a unique looking flower would be easy to find. However, itβs reddish brownish colouring makes it blend right into the Australian bush. Want to add the Flying Duck Orchid to your home greenhouse? Sorry! This flower only grows in the wild, in Australia, and has never been propagated. Why you ask? Because in order to grow, it depends symbiotically on a particular type of vegetative fungus that only grows in Australia. Itβs an excellent excuse to go on a vacation, though!