Caladenia carnea

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Pink fingers orchid
Pink fingers.jpg
Caladenia carnea in the southern midlands of Tasmania
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. carnea
Binomial name
Caladenia carnea
R.Br. (1810)
Synonyms [1]
  • Caladenia catenata f. carnea(R.Br.) N.Halle
  • Caladenia catenata(Sm.) Druce
  • Petalochilus carneus(R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Caladenia carnea, commonly known as pink fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It has a single thin, green leaf and one to five white or pink flowers with red stripes and two rows of yellow-tipped "calli" on their labellum.

Contents

Description

Caladenia carnea is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, sparsely hairy, narrow linear leaf, 90–150 mm (4–6 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. [2] [3] [4]

The inflorescence is a raceme, 120–250 mm (5–10 in) tall with between one and three, sometimes five flowers. The flowers are sometimes sweetly scented or musky. The dorsal sepal is usually erect, 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals and petals are usually 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long with their outer surfaces covered with glandular hairs. Their outer surface is greenish-pink, sometimes striped, and the inner surface is pinkish or greenish white. The labellum is roughly egg-shaped, 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and wide, white or pinkish with prominent red stripes. The sides of the labellum turn upwards while the centre part has a toothed edge, usually with yellow calli and there are two lines of raised, club-like, yellow-tipped calli in the centre. The column is curved with red bars on the inside surface and has narrow wings on its sides. Flowering occurs between August and November and is followed by a non-fleshy, dehiscent capsule containing a large number of seeds. [2] [3] [4]

Size compared to a finger Fink fingers finger.jpg
Size compared to a finger

This species is often confused with Caladenia fuscata but that species always has one flower per plant and flowers a few weeks earlier than C. carnea. [2]

Taxonomy

Caladenia carnea was first formally described by Robert Brown in 1810 and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae . [1] [5] In 2001, David Jones and Mark Clements proposed changing the name to Petalochilus carneus but the change has not been widely accepted. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Pink fingers orchid occurs in Queensland south from Hervey Bay, [2] the eastern half of New South Wales, [3] most of Victoria apart from the alps and far north west of that state. [4] It also occurs in south-eastern South Australia [7] and Tasmania. It grows in a wide range of habitats including heath, scrubland, woodland and forest, preferring well-drained soil. It often survives land clearing. [2] [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Caladenia flava</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia flava, commonly known as cowslip orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a relatively common orchid with a single, hairy leaf and up to three yellow flowers which often have red markings. In 2001 three subspecies were named and a fourth is recognised but not as yet formally described.

<i>Leptoceras</i> Genus of orchids

Leptoceras menziesii, commonly known as rabbit orchid, is a plant in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and the only member of the genus Leptoceras. It is a slender plant, usually found in large colonies and which only flowers after fire. The flowers are small, white, pink and red on a stem up to 30 cm (10 in) tall and is endemic to southern Australia. It was one of the first orchids from Western Australia to be described and was given the name Caladenia menziesii, a name still used by some authorities.

<i>Caladenia angustata</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia angustata, commonly known as white caps is a species of orchid endemic to Tasmania. It has a single, hairy leaf and one or two white to pinkish flowers which are reddish or greenish on their backs. It has not been accepted as a separate species by some authorities who regard it as a synonym of Caladenia gracilis.

<i>Pheladenia</i> Genus of orchids

Pheladenia deformis, commonly known as blue fairy orchid or blue beard is the only species of the flowering plant genus Pheladenia in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It was originally named as Caladenia deformis and has since had several name changes. Plants have a single, narrow, hairy leaf and usually blue flowers with relatively short, broad sepals and petals and an unusual labellum.

<i>Caladenia latifolia</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia latifolia, commonly known as pink fairies is a species of orchid endemic to Australia and is common and widespread in the southern half of the continent and in Tasmania. It has a single, hairy leaf and up to four pink flowers. It is easily distinguished by its relatively large, green leaf, and pink flowers on an unusually tall spike.

<i>Caladenia dilatata</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia dilatata, commonly known as the green-comb spider-orchid and as koolin by Aboriginal people of the Coranderrk area, is species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single leaf and a single yellowish-green flower with reddish stripes and occurs in Victoria South Australia and Tasmania. It is similar to C. necrophylla which occurs in south-east South Australia and to C. concinna from southern New South Wales.

<i>Caladenia fuscata</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia fuscata, commonly known as dusky fingers, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is a small ground orchid found in eucalyptus woodland and which flowers in September and October.

<i>Caladenia gracilis</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia gracilis, commonly known as musky caps or musky caladenia, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and up to six flowers which are dark-coloured on the back and white on the front, sometimes tinged with pink and with a strong musky or soapy odour. The species is also known as Caladenia moschata in Victoria.

<i>Caladenia alata</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia alata, commonly known as the fairy orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is found in south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. It is a ground orchid with small, usually short-lived flowers, which have relatively stiffly held petals and sepals and reddish-purple bars on the labellum.

<i>Caladenia clarkiae</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia clarkiae, commonly known as pink caps, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid which grows singly or in small groups in Victoria and New South Wales. It has a single leaf and usually one or two white to pale pink flowers with darker pink tips.

<i>Caladenia congesta</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia congesta, commonly known as black-tongue caladenia, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single, sparsely hairy leaf, and up to three bright pink flowers with the central part of the labellum completely covered with black calli. It is a widespread species but not common in any part of its range.

<i>Caladenia filamentosa</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia filamentosa, commonly known as daddy-long-legs, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and up to four, usually dark red flowers with long, drooping lateral sepals and petals.

<i>Caladenia flava <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> flava</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia flava subsp. flava, commonly known as the cowslip orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a relatively common orchid with a single, hairy leaf and up to three golden-yellow flowers which often have red markings.

<i>Caladenia flava <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> maculata</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia flava subsp. maculata, commonly known as the Kalbarri cowslip orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and up to three lemon-yellow flowers with brownish-fawn spots on some parts. It mainly occurs in near-coastal areas north of Geraldton.

<i>Caladenia flava <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> sylvestris</i> Subspecies of orchid

Caladenia flava subsp. sylvestris, commonly known as the karri cowslip orchid, is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single, hairy leaf and up to three pale yellow and cream-coloured flowers which are white near the tips of the sepals and petals and marked with bright red or pink.

Caladenia patersonii is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is native to Victoria and Tasmania. It is a ground orchid with a single hairy leaf and one or two creamy-white, yellowish or pink flowers.

<i>Caladenia testacea</i> Species of orchid

Caladenia testacea, commonly known as honey caps, or honey caladenia is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a ground orchid with a single, sparsely hairy leaf and up to three white to yellowish-green flowers with brownish tips and a darker back.

<i>Cyanicula caerulea</i> Species of orchid

Cyanicula caerulea, commonly known as the eastern tiny blue china orchid, blue caladenia or blue fairy is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has a single narrow leaf and a single blue flower.

<i>Glossodia minor</i> Species of orchid

Glossodia minor, commonly known as the small waxlip orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single very hairy leaf and one or two deep violet-blue flowers. It has been known as Glossodia minor since its description by the prolific Scottish botanist Robert Brown in 1810, but recent discoveries suggest its inclusion in the genus Caladenia. It is similar to Caladenia major but is smaller in all its parts.

Prasophyllum australe, commonly known as southern leek orchid or austral leek orchid, is a species of orchid and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single tubular, green leaf and up to fifty scented, greenish-brown flowers with red stripes.

References

  1. 1 2 "Caladenia carnea". APNI. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 36. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bernhardt, Peter. "Caladenia carnea". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jeanes, Jeff. "Caladenia carnea". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  5. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 324. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  6. "Petalochilus carneus". APNI. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  7. "Caladenia carnea". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2016.