Caladenia maritima

Caladenia maritima, commonly known as coastal fingers[2] or Angahook pink fingers,[3] is a species of orchid endemic to Victoria. It has a single, almost hairless leaf and one or white flowers with greenish backs and only occurs in the coastal district of Anglesea.

Coastal fingers
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Caladenia
Species:
C. maritima
Binomial name
Caladenia maritima
Synonyms[1]

Petalochilus maritimus (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.

Description

Caladenia maritima is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single, almost glabrous, linear leaf, 60–150 mm (2–6 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. One or two white flowers 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and wide are borne on a stalk 100–200 mm (4–8 in) tall. The backs of the sepals and petals are greenish with a dark line along the centre. The dorsal sepal is erect, sometimes curving backwards and is 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 13–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and spreading. The petals are 13–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and arranged like the lateral sepals. The labellum is 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and white with purple lines and blotches. The tip of the labellum is orange and curled under. The sides of the labellum have a few narrow teeth near the tip and there are two short rows of yellow or white calli in the centre of the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to October.[2][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Caladenia maritima was first described in 1999 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Anglesea and the description was published in The Orchadian.[1] The specific epithet (maritima) is a Latin word meaning "of the sea".[5]

Distribution and habitat

Coastal fingers occurs near Anglesea in a single population, growing in woodland with a heathy understorey.[2][3][4]

Conservation

Caladenia maritima is not classified under the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 or under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 but has been listed as "endangered" in Victoria according to the Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Vascular Plants in Victoria – 2004.[4]

References
  1. "Caladenia maritima". APNI. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 38–39. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Action Statement - Angahook Pink-fingers Caladenia maritima" (PDF). Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. Jeanes, Jeff. "Caladenia maritima". Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 512.
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