Purple-heart fingers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purple-heart fingers |
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| Caladenia hillmanii growing near Nelson Bay | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
hillmanii
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| Synonyms | |
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Petalochilus hillmanii (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The purple-heart fingers orchid (scientific name: Caladenia hillmanii) is a special plant. It belongs to the orchid family and is found only in New South Wales, Australia. This orchid grows in the ground. It has one leaf and usually one or two bright pink flowers. The flower has a reddish-purple part called a labellum with darker stripes.
What Does the Purple-Heart Fingers Orchid Look Like?
The purple-heart fingers orchid is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so it loses its leaves at certain times.
This plant has one dark green leaf. The leaf is long and thin, like a line. It is about 60–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The leaf has a few hairs on it.
The orchid grows one or two bright pink flowers. Each flower is about 25 mm (1 in) across. They grow on a tall stem, which is about 150–250 mm (6–10 in) high.
- Sepals and Petals: The back of the flower's sepals and petals are greenish. They are covered with tiny brownish glands.
- The top sepal stands straight up. It is about 13–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide.
- The side sepals and petals are about 12–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. They are slightly curved.
- Labellum: The labellum is a special lip-like part of the flower. It is shaped like an egg. It is about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. The sides of the labellum curl upwards, and the tip rolls under.
- The labellum is dark reddish-pink or reddish-purple. It has thin, darker red stripes.
- It also has two rows of yellow bumps called calli down its middle.
- The very tip of the labellum is bright yellow. It has two blunt, dark yellow teeth.
This orchid usually flowers in September and October.
How the Purple-Heart Fingers Orchid Got Its Name
The purple-heart fingers orchid was first officially described in 1994. A botanist named David Jones wrote about it. His description was published in a science journal called Muelleria. He studied a plant sample found at Shoal Bay.
The plant's scientific name, hillmanii, was chosen to honor George Hillman. He lived in Nelson Bay and was the first person to realize that this orchid was a new and different species.
Where Does the Purple-Heart Fingers Orchid Grow?
The purple-heart fingers orchid lives in coastal forests. It prefers sandy soil. You can find this orchid growing along the coast of New South Wales. Its range stretches from Nelson Bay all the way down to Ulladulla.
