Coastal fingers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coastal fingers |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
maritima
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| Synonyms | |
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Petalochilus maritimus (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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Caladenia maritima, often called coastal fingers or Angahook pink fingers, is a type of orchid. This special flower is found only in Victoria, Australia. It has one leaf that is almost smooth and produces one or two white flowers. These flowers have greenish backs and grow only in the coastal area near Anglesea.
Contents
About the Coastal Fingers Orchid
The coastal fingers orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It lives for many years and loses its leaves each year, like some trees. It has a special underground storage part called a tuber, which is like a small potato.
What the Plant Looks Like
This orchid has a single, long, thin leaf. It is about 6 to 15 centimeters (2.4 to 5.9 inches) long and 1 to 3 millimeters (0.04 to 0.12 inches) wide. The leaf is almost completely smooth, meaning it has no hairs.
The Flowers of Coastal Fingers
The coastal fingers orchid usually has one or two white flowers. Each flower is about 2 to 2.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1 inch) long and wide. They grow on a stem that is 10 to 20 centimeters (3.9 to 7.9 inches) tall.
The back of the flower's parts, called sepals and petals, are greenish. They also have a dark line down the middle.
- The top sepal stands upright and sometimes bends backward. It is about 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long.
- The two side sepals spread out. They are about 1.3 to 1.7 centimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long.
- The petals are arranged like the side sepals. They are about 1.3 to 1.5 centimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long.
The most interesting part is the labellum. This is the special lower petal of the orchid. It is 0.7 to 0.9 centimeters (0.28 to 0.35 inches) long and 0.5 to 0.8 centimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. It is white with purple lines and spots. The very tip of the labellum is orange and curls underneath. The sides of the labellum have a few small, narrow teeth near the tip. In the center, there are two short rows of yellow or white bumps, called calli.
Coastal fingers orchids bloom during spring, usually from September to October.
Naming the Coastal Fingers Orchid
The scientific name for this orchid, Caladenia maritima, was first given in 1999. It was described by a botanist named David Jones. He found a sample of this orchid near Anglesea.
The second part of its scientific name, maritima, is a Latin word. It means "of the sea." This name makes sense because the orchid grows near the coast.
Where Coastal Fingers Orchids Live
The coastal fingers orchid is found only in one area near Anglesea, Victoria. It grows in woodlands where there are also many small, heath-like shrubs. This type of environment is called a "heathy understorey."
Protecting Coastal Fingers Orchids
Even though Caladenia maritima is not officially protected by some big government laws in Australia, it is still considered "endangered" in Victoria. This means there are very few of these orchids left, and they are at risk of disappearing. Experts keep a list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria, and this orchid is on that list.
