Caladenia carnea
Encyclopedia
The Pink Fingers Orchid (Caladenia carnea) is a deciduous terrestrial orchid species which grows throughout eastern Australia
and Tasmania. It is the type species
of the genus Caladenia
.
The flowers are to about 20mm across and are various shades of pink, although all white or nearly white flowers are common. They have a single grass like leaf and up to three bracts along the flower stem. The flower stem is between 15 and 30 cm high topped by one (occasionally two) flowers. The large amount of variation indicates that Caladenia carnea is quite likely a complex of related species. They generally tolerate most weather conditions, however, soil must be quite free draining. They often rely on mycorrhizal fungi in the native soil.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Tasmania. It is the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of the genus Caladenia
Caladenia
The genus Caladenia belongs to the subfamily Orchidoideae of the orchid family . The abbreviation Calda. is often used in trade journals to indicate the genus....
.
The flowers are to about 20mm across and are various shades of pink, although all white or nearly white flowers are common. They have a single grass like leaf and up to three bracts along the flower stem. The flower stem is between 15 and 30 cm high topped by one (occasionally two) flowers. The large amount of variation indicates that Caladenia carnea is quite likely a complex of related species. They generally tolerate most weather conditions, however, soil must be quite free draining. They often rely on mycorrhizal fungi in the native soil.