Warty hammer orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warty hammer orchid |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Drakaea
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| Species: |
livida
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The Warty Hammer Orchid (scientific name: Drakaea livida) is a special type of orchid that only grows in the southwestern part of Western Australia. It has a very clever way of getting pollinated: it tricks a male wasp into helping it! The orchid's special petal, called a labellum, looks and even smells 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. Even though this orchid was officially named a long time ago in 1842, its description was often forgotten. Now, we know it's one of the most common types of hammer orchids, along with the Drakaea glyptodon.
What Does This Orchid Look Like?
The Warty Hammer Orchid is similar to other hammer orchids. It has one leaf that lies flat on the ground and a potato-like part called a tuber underground. This leaf is shaped like a heart and is about 20 millimetres (0.8 in) wide. It's a bit shiny, olive green, with darker lines spreading out from where it connects to the stem.
The stem can be 15–40 centimetres (6–20 in) tall, sometimes even longer. Each stem has a single flower, and its stalk is about 12–15 millimetres (0.5–0.6 in) long.
The flower also looks like those of other hammer orchids. Its labellum (a special petal) looks like a female wasp that can't fly, specifically a Zaspilothynnus nigripes wasp. You can tell this orchid apart by its pointed column (the central part of the flower), the pointed, upward-curving end of its labellum, and the swollen main part of the labellum.
The sepal (a leaf-like part) at the back of the flower is 12–15 millimetres (0.5–0.6 in) long. The two sepals on the sides are 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in) long. The other petals are also 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in) long.
The labellum, which looks like an insect, has a "head" part that is about one-third the length of its "body." It also has two dark bumps near its base. The stalk that connects the labellum to the flower is spotted. The "body" part of the labellum is greenish-yellow at the top, with maroon spots. The lower end is dark maroon and swollen, just like in the Drakaea glyptodon orchid. The "head" part of the labellum is about one-quarter the length of the "body." It can be smooth or covered with long hairs. These orchids usually bloom from August to mid-October.
How It Got Its Name
The Warty Hammer Orchid, Drakaea livida, was first officially described by a botanist named James Drummond in 1842. His description was published in a science journal called Hooker's London Journal of Botany. The second part of its scientific name, livida, comes from a Latin word meaning "bluish" or "black and blue." This refers to the blotchy colors found on the flowers of this orchid.
Where Does It Live?
The Warty Hammer Orchid grows in the Fitzgerald River National Park and near Watheroo. It likes to grow in sandy soils within woodland areas.
Is It Safe?
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Drakaea livida is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
