Robust fingers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robust fingers |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
tonellii
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| Synonyms | |
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Petalochilus tonellii (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The Robust Fingers (scientific name: Caladenia tonellii) is a special type of orchid. It grows only in Tasmania, Australia. This orchid has one long, upright, hairy leaf. It also has beautiful bright pink flowers, usually up to three of them. The back of the flowers looks a bit brownish. This orchid is quite rare, meaning there are not many of them left.
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About the Robust Fingers Orchid
The Robust Fingers orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It has an underground tuber, which is like a small storage organ. This orchid can grow by itself or in small groups. Sometimes, it even forms large groups.
What the Plant Looks Like
- Leaf: Each plant has one leaf. It is dark green, stands upright, and has a few hairs. The leaf is usually 12 to 25 centimeters long and about 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters wide. Its base is a reddish-purple color. The leaf often grows up through the flowers.
- Flowers: The plant can have up to three bright pink flowers. The back of the flowers is greenish. They grow on a tall stalk, which can be 20 to 35 centimeters high.
- Sepals and Petals: The top part of the flower is called the dorsal sepal. It is 1.2 to 1.7 centimeters long. The two side sepals are 1.5 to 2 centimeters long. They usually spread out sideways. The petals are 1 to 1.6 centimeters long and spread wide or point slightly forward.
- Labellum: This is a special lip-like part of the flower. It is 7 to 10 millimeters long and wide. It can be white or pink with red stripes. The tip of the labellum is yellow or orange. The sides of the labellum have parts that stand up. These parts partly cover the central column of the flower. The front part of the labellum has 12 to 14 small teeth on each side. The very tip of the labellum curves downwards. There are also small bumps, called calli, along the middle of the labellum. These calli are about 1 millimeter long and have orange or yellow tips.
When it Flowers
Robust Fingers orchids usually bloom from October to December.
Naming the Robust Fingers Orchid
The scientific name Caladenia tonellii was first given to this orchid in 1998. It was named by a botanist named David Jones. He described the plant after a sample was found near a place called Latrobe. The second part of its name, tonellii, honors Peter Tonelli. He used to manage parks and reserves for the Latrobe Council and was the person who first found this orchid.
Where Robust Fingers Grow
The Robust Fingers orchid is only found in a few places in northern Tasmania. It likes to grow under thick bushes in open forests.
Protecting Robust Fingers Orchids
The Robust Fingers orchid is a very rare plant. It is listed as "critically endangered" by the Australian government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) Act. This means it is at very high risk of disappearing forever. It is also listed as "endangered" under Tasmania's Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
When it was first listed as critically endangered, experts thought there were only about 35 to 45 plants left. By 2008, new groups of plants were found, but there were still fewer than 250 adult plants in total.
In the past, there were likely many more Robust Fingers orchids. However, their homes have been destroyed, especially when land was cleared for growing trees (forestry).
Today, the main dangers to this orchid include:
- Wrong Fire Management: Fires that happen too often or not often enough can harm the plants.
- Weed Invasion: Other plants, called weeds, can grow and take over the orchid's space.
- Climate Change: Changes in weather patterns can make it harder for the orchid to survive.
