Thick fingers facts for kids

The Caladenia coactilis, also called thick fingers, is a special kind of plant. It belongs to the amazing orchid family. This plant only grows naturally in South Australia. It is a ground orchid, meaning it grows in the soil. You might find it growing alone or in small groups. It has one fuzzy leaf and pretty flowers. These flowers are bright pink inside and brownish on the outside.

Discovering the Thick Fingers Orchid

Caladenia coactilis is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. This plant has a special underground part called a tuber. It can grow by itself or in small, loose groups.

What the Plant Looks Like

The thick fingers orchid has one leaf that stands up straight. This leaf is covered in many tiny hairs. It is shaped like a line or a narrow spear. The leaf is about 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long. It is also about 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide.

The Beautiful Flowers

This orchid usually has one or two flowers on a stem. The stem grows to be about 10–18 cm (4–7 in) tall. The flowers are bright pink on the inside. Their backs look brownish because they are covered in tiny glands. Each flower is about 30 mm (1 in) across.

Flower Parts Up Close

The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It stands up straight and curves forward. It is about 18–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long. The side parts, called lateral sepals and petals, spread out wide. They are about 18–23 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long. The sepals and petals are smooth on the inside. But on the outside, they are covered with brownish glands.

The most interesting part is the labellum. This is the orchid's special lip. It is broadly egg-shaped and bright pink. It has many thin, dark red lines. The labellum has three main parts, called lobes. The side lobes stand up around the flower's central part, called the column. These side lobes have three pairs of small, pointed teeth. The middle lobe of the labellum curves forward. It has two to four rows of bright yellow bumps, called calli. The very tip of this lobe is also yellow. This orchid blooms from August to September.

How the Orchid Got Its Name

The Caladenia coactilis was first officially described in 1991. A botanist named David L. Jones wrote about it. His description was published in a book called Australian Orchid Research. The first plant used to describe this species was found in the Telowie Gorge Conservation Park.

Meaning of the Name

The second part of its scientific name, coactilis, comes from a Latin word. It means "made thick." This name was chosen because many parts of this orchid plant are quite thick.

Where the Orchid Lives

This special orchid usually grows in open forests. You can find it in two main areas of South Australia. These are the southern Flinders Ranges and the northern Mount Lofty Ranges.