Mount Finnigan cane orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Finnigan cane orchid |
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| Illustration by Lewis Roberts | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dendrobium
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| Species: |
finniganense
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The Mount Finnigan cane orchid (scientific name: Dendrobium finniganense) is a special type of orchid. It grows on land (terrestrial) or on rocks (lithophytic). This plant is endemic, meaning it only lives in a small area. You can find it on a few mountain tops in Far North Queensland, Australia.
This orchid has thin, round stems called pseudobulbs. Each stem has up to three thin, dark green leaves. When it blooms, it usually has one or two beautiful flowers. These flowers are white or cream-colored with yellow and purple spots in the middle.
What it Looks Like
The Mount Finnigan cane orchid is a herb. This means it's a plant with soft stems, not woody ones. It has narrow, cylinder-shaped pseudobulbs. These stems are about 20 to 40 millimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long. They are also about 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The pseudobulbs can be pale green or yellowish. Each one has up to three thin leaves. These leaves are shaped like an oval or a spear. They are about 50 to 80 millimeters (2 to 3 inches) long. The leaves are also about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide.
The flowers grow from the end of the pseudobulb. The flower stem is about 30 to 45 millimeters (1.2 to 1.8 inches) long. Each stem usually has one or two flowers. These flowers are white or cream-colored. They have pretty yellow and purple marks near their center.
The flowers themselves are about 27 to 40 millimeters (1.1 to 1.6 inches) long. They are also about 25 to 35 millimeters (1 to 1.4 inches) wide. The top part of the flower, called the sepal, is about 22 to 26 millimeters (0.9 to 1 inch) long. The side sepals are similar in length but wider. The petals are about 20 to 22 millimeters (0.8 to 0.9 inches) long. They are about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The special lip-shaped petal, called the labellum, is white. It has reddish-purple markings. This part is about 14 millimeters (0.55 inches) long and 13 millimeters (0.51 inches) wide. It has three parts, or lobes. The side lobes stand up and are shaped like triangles. The middle lobe is round. It has a ridge in the middle and fuzzy hairs along its edges. This orchid usually blooms between November and January.
How it Got its Name
The Mount Finnigan cane orchid was officially named Dendrobium finniganense in 1992. It was named by a botanist named David Jones. He published its description in a scientific paper called Phytologia.
The second part of its name, finniganense, comes from where it was first found. This place is called Mount Finnigan. This is known as the type locality for the plant.
Where it Lives
The Mount Finnigan cane orchid likes to grow in open areas. You can often find it among large rocks. It also grows near clumps of a plant called Lomandra. This orchid lives near the tops of three mountains: Mount Finnigan, Mount Pieter Botte, and Thornton Peak.
