Slender hammer orchid (Drakaea gracilis)
Description
Drakaea gracilis 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, glabrous, dull blue-grey with darker lines radiating from the attachment to the stem. The stem is 10–25 centimetres (4–10 in) long and the stalk of the single flower is 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in) long.The flower is also similar to those of other hammer orchids in that the labellum resembles a flightless female thynnid wasp, except that in this species the column is pointed, the labellum lacks spots and the "neck" of the insect-like labellum is thinner than in other drakaeas. 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 11–14 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in). The petals are also 11–14 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in) long. The insect-like labellum has a "head" about one-third long as the "body" and which is mostly hairy. The rest of the labellum (representing the female "body" of the insect) is dark maroon in colour and glabrous. Flowers appear from late August to October.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Drakaea
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