Kneeling hammer orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kneeling hammer orchid |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Drakaea
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| Species: |
concolor
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The Kneeling hammer orchid, known scientifically as Drakaea concolor, is a special type of orchid that grows only in the southwest part of Western Australia. It's quite rare and is found in only a few places. Because it's so rare, the Australian Government has listed it as "vulnerable," which means it needs protection to survive. The Western Australian Government also calls it "threatened."
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What Does the Kneeling Hammer Orchid Look Like?
The Kneeling hammer orchid is similar to other hammer orchids. It has a single leaf that lies flat on the ground. This leaf is shaped like a heart, about 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) wide. It's dark green and looks shiny. The veins in the leaf are hard to see.
The plant's stem grows tall, reaching about 25 to 30 centimeters (10 to 12 inches) high. Each plant usually has only one flower. The small stalk holding this flower is about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long.
Unique Features of the Flower
The flower of the Kneeling hammer orchid also looks like other hammer orchids. Its special lower petal, called the labellum, looks like a female thynnid wasp that can't fly. This helps it attract male wasps for pollination.
You can tell this orchid apart because it doesn't have a spine on its column (the central part of the flower). Other hammer orchids like Drakaea glyptodon and Drakaea elastica also lack this spine. However, D. elastica has a light green leaf, and D. glyptodon has clear veins in its leaf. The Kneeling hammer orchid has a dark green leaf with hidden veins.
The back sepal (a leaf-like part of the flower) is about 12 to 15 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. The two side sepals and the petals are about 10 to 12 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. The insect-like labellum has a "head" that is about half as long as its "body." The stalk that holds the labellum is about 7 to 8 millimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) long. Unlike some other hammer orchids, the labellum of this species is all the same dark maroon color. These beautiful flowers usually appear in August and September.
How the Kneeling Hammer Orchid Got Its Name
The Kneeling hammer orchid, Drakaea concolor, was officially described in 2007. This was done by two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown. Their description was published in a science journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
The second part of its scientific name, concolor, comes from a Latin word. It means "all the same color." This name was chosen because the labellum (the special lower petal) of this orchid is all one dark maroon color.
Where the Kneeling Hammer Orchid Lives
The Kneeling hammer orchid is very rare. It is only found in four main areas in Western Australia. These areas are near Geraldton, Kalbarri, Coorow, and Northampton. This orchid lives further north than any other species in its group. It likes to grow in sandy soil within shrubland or woodland areas.
How the Kneeling Hammer Orchid Reproduces
Like other hammer orchids, the Kneeling hammer orchid has a very clever way to get pollinated. It uses a trick called "sexual deception." This means it pretends to be something it's not to attract a specific thynnid wasp.
The orchid's labellum looks and smells just like a female thynnid wasp that can't fly. When a male thynnid wasp sees and smells the labellum, it thinks it has found a female wasp. The male wasp tries to pick up the "female" (the labellum) and fly away with it. As it does this, it accidentally picks up pollen from the orchid. When the wasp tries the same trick on another Kneeling hammer orchid, it drops the pollen, helping the orchid reproduce.
Interestingly, the Kneeling hammer orchid often grows in the same places as other hammer orchids. But each hammer orchid species is pollinated by a different type of thynnid wasp.
Protecting the Kneeling Hammer Orchid
The Kneeling hammer orchid is a very special plant that needs our help. In 2008, scientists estimated there were only about 120 mature, flowering plants left.
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife calls this species "threatened." This means it is likely to become extinct, or it is very rare and needs special protection to survive. The Australian Government also lists it as "vulnerable" under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The biggest dangers to the Kneeling hammer orchid are fires that happen when the plant is growing or flowering. Also, in some areas, wild pigs and goats can harm the plants by eating them or trampling them. Protecting these orchids means protecting their habitat from these threats.
