Drakaea confluens, commonly known as late 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 specific species of flightless female thynnid wasp. The species was discovered and collected in 1930 but was not formally described until 2007. It is only known from three areas in the south of the state and has been declared "endangered" by the Australian government and "threatened" by the Government of Western Australia.
| Late hammer orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Drakaea |
| Species: | D. confluens
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| Binomial name | |
| Drakaea confluens | |
Description edit
Late hammer orchid 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 20 millimetres (0.8 in) in diameter, dull blue-grey in colour with darker green lines and distinct veins visible on the upper surface. There are also minute raised lumps over its surface. The stem is 15–30 centimetres (6–10 in) long and the stalk of the single flower is 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in) long.[2][3]
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 colouration of the labellum. The "head" and part of the "abdomen" of the insect-like labellum are light green with darker spots while the end of the "abdomen" is a dark maroon colour. The sepal at the back of the flower, the two at the sides and the petals are all 9–11 millimetres (0.35–0.43 in) long. The head-like top of the labellum is distinctly hairy and has two dark-coloured lumps at its base. Flowers appear from September to November, depending to a certain extent on location.[2]
Taxonomy and naming edit
Drakaea confluens was discovered and first collected near Gnowangerup by Mrs. P. Andrews. There were no other collections until 1982 from Boyup Brook. The species was first formally described by Stephen Hopper and Andrew Brown in 2007. Their description was published in Australian Systematic Botany.[4] The species is "named from the Latin confluens (confluent, running together)" referring to the labellum of this species having a labellum intermediate in form between those of D. livida and D. elastica.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat edit
The late hammer orchid is only known from three disjunct populations in the Boyup Brook district, Stirling Range National Park and Porongurup National Park.[2][5] It grows in sand in shrubland or woodland.[2][6][7]
Conservation edit
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife classifies the species as "threatened"[7] meaning that it is considered likely to become extinct, or rare and in need of special protection.[8] The Australian Government lists its status under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act as "endangered". The main threats to the species' survival are human activities (such as road maintenance, reactreational activities and development), competition from invasive species (including weeds and feral animals) and dieback disease.[2][5]
References edit
- ^ "Drakaea confluens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Hopper, Stephen D.; Brown, Andrew P. (2007). "A revision of Australia' s hammer orchids (Drakaea: Orchidaceae), with some field data on species-specific sexually deceived wasp pollinators". Australian Systematic Botany. 20 (3): 264–265. doi:10.1071/SB06033.
- ^ a b Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Gary (2013). Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 237. ISBN 9780980348149.
- ^ "Drakaea confluens". APNI. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- ^ a b "Drakaea confluens — Late Hammer-orchid SPRAT profile". Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 85. ISBN 0646402439.
- ^ a b "Drakaea confluens". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 29 July 2019.