Drakaea concolor
| Kneeling hammer orchid | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Subtribe: | Drakaeinae |
| Genus: | Drakaea |
| Species: | D. concolor |
| Binomial name | |
|
Drakaea concolor Hopper & A.P.Br. (2007) |
|
Drakaea concolor, commonly known as the kneeling hammer orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south–west of Western Australia. It is similar to other hammer orchids in that it is pollinated by a single species of male thynnid wasp using sexual deception. The orchid's labellum is similar in shape and scent to a flightless female thynnid wasp. The kneeling hammer orchid often grows in the same areas as other hammer orchids which are pollinated by a different species of thynnid wasp. The species is only known from a few areas in the far west of the state and has been declared "vulnerable" by the Australian government and "threatened" by the government of Western Australia.
Drakaea concolor is similar to others in the genus in that it has a single, ground hugging leaf and an underground tuber. In this case, the leaf is heart shaped, about 30 millimetres (1 in) in diameter, dark green and rather glossy. The leaf veins are inconspicuous. The stem is 25–30 centimetres (9.8–12 in) long and the stalk of the single flower is 10–15 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in) long.
Its flower is also similar to those of other hammer orchids in that the labellum resembles a flightless female thynnid wasp however it can be distinguished by lacking a spine on the column. The flowers of Drakaea glyptodon and Drakaea elastica also lack a spine, but can be distinguished from this species by having a light green leaf (D. elastica) or having distinct veins in the leaf (D. glyptdon). The sepal at the back of the flower is 12–15 millimetres (0.5–0.6 in) long and the two at the sides are 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in). The petals are also 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in) long. The insect-like labellum has a head about half as long as the body and its stalk, measured from the hinge is 7–8 millimetres (0.28–0.31 in) long. Unlike some other hammer orchids, the labellum is all the same dark maroon colour. Flowers appear in August and September.
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Wikipedia