White fingers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White fingers |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Caladenia
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| Species: |
minor
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White fingers (scientific name: Caladenia minor) is a beautiful plant. It belongs to the orchid family. This plant grows naturally in New Zealand. Sometimes, people are not sure about its exact name. In Australia, it is often called by other names like Caladenia pusilla. This orchid has one long, thin leaf. It also grows one or two flowers. These flowers are usually white or light cream.
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What White Fingers Look Like
Caladenia minor is a plant that grows on the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It is also deciduous, so its leaves fall off each year. This plant is a herb, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones.
Plant Parts
White fingers have a special part underground. It is called a tuber, which is like a small, round storage organ. From this tuber grows one long, thin leaf. This leaf is also a bit hairy.
Flowers and Stems
The plant produces one or two flowers. These flowers are about 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) wide. They grow on a thin, strong stem. This stem can be about 200 millimeters (8 inches) tall. The stem is covered with small, reddish or dark purple hairs.
The flowers have parts called sepals and petals. These are white or light cream on the front. On the back, they have dark spots. The flower also has a special lip-like part called a labellum. This labellum is cream-colored with red lines. It has short, blunt teeth along its sides near the tip. White fingers usually bloom from October to December, or sometimes until February.
How White Fingers Got Its Name
The plant Caladenia minor was first officially described in 1853. A scientist named Joseph Dalton Hooker gave it its name. He wrote about it in a book called The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror.
The second part of its scientific name, minor, is a Latin word. It means "less" or "smaller."
Name Confusion
In Australia, people often call Caladenia minor by other names. These include Caladenia pusilla or Caladenia carnea var. minor. Even in New Zealand, there is some debate about its exact scientific status. Interestingly, in New Zealand, this plant often pollinates itself. But in Australia, bees help to pollinate it.
Where White Fingers Grow
White fingers grow in New Zealand. You can find them on both the North Island and the South Island. They also grow on Chatham Island. These plants like to live in beech forests and scrubland areas.
Is White Fingers Endangered?
In New Zealand, Caladenia minor is listed as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
