Slender hammer orchid facts for kids
The slender hammer orchid (Drakaea gracilis) is a special type of orchid that grows only in the southwest part of Western Australia. It's known for its clever way of getting pollinated: it tricks male wasps! This orchid's flower looks and smells just like a female wasp that can't fly. This makes the male wasp try to mate with the flower, and in doing so, it helps the orchid spread its pollen.
Scientists first collected this orchid in 1900. However, it was often confused with other similar orchids. It wasn't until 2007, after detailed studies of these orchids and their wasp helpers, that Drakaea gracilis was recognized as its own unique species.
Quick facts for kids Slender hammer orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Drakaea
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| Species: |
gracilis
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Contents
What It Looks Like
The slender hammer orchid is a bit like other hammer orchids. It has one leaf that lies flat on the ground. This leaf is shaped like a heart and is about 20 mm (0.8 inches) wide. It's smooth and has a dull blue-grey color with darker lines.
The orchid's stem grows 10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 inches) tall. It usually has only one flower at the top. The stalk holding this flower is about 10 to 12 mm (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long.
The Flower's Tricky Design
The flower of the slender hammer orchid is amazing because it looks like a female wasp. This helps it trick male wasps into pollinating it. The "neck" part of this insect-like flower is thinner than in other hammer orchids. Also, the flower's column (a central part of the orchid flower) is pointed, and the "body" of the wasp-like labellum (the orchid's lip petal) doesn't have spots.
The back sepal (a leaf-like part that protects the flower) is 12 to 15 mm (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. The two side sepals and the petals are 11 to 14 mm (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. The "head" of the insect-like labellum is about one-third the length of its "body" and is mostly hairy. The rest of the labellum, which looks like the female wasp's body, is dark maroon and smooth. These special flowers appear from late August to October.
How It Got Its Name
Drakaea gracilis was officially described in 2007 by two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown. They published their findings in a scientific journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
The name gracilis comes from a Latin word meaning "thin" or "slender." This name was chosen because the labellum (the wasp-like lip) of this orchid is narrower than that of another similar orchid, Drakaea livida.
Where It Lives
The slender hammer orchid grows in higher areas of Western Australia. You can find it from near Dandaragan all the way down to the Stirling Range and Margaret River areas. It likes to grow in sandy soil with gravel, usually in woodland areas.
Protecting This Orchid
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Drakaea gracilis as "not threatened." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
