# Drakaea concolor

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Species of orchid endemic to Western Australia

Kneeling hammer orchid Conservation status Vulnerable (EPBC Act) Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Subfamily: Orchidoideae Tribe: Diurideae Genus: Drakaea Species: D. concolor Binomial name Drakaea concolor Hopper & A.P.Br.[1]

***Drakaea concolor***, commonly known as the **kneeling hammer orchid**,[2] is a species of [orchid](/source/Orchid) [endemic](/source/Endemism) to the south–west of [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia). The species is only known from a few areas in the far west of the state and has been declared "vulnerable" by the Australian Government and "threatened" by the Government of Western Australia.

## Description

*Drakaea concolor* 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 30 millimetres (1 in) in diameter, dark green and rather glossy. The leaf veins are inconspicuous. The stem is 25–30 centimetres (9.8–12 in) long and the stalk of the single flower is 10–15 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in) long.[2]

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 lacking a spine on the [column](/source/Column_(botany)). The flowers of *[Drakaea glyptodon](/source/Drakaea_glyptodon)* and *[Drakaea elastica](/source/Drakaea_elastica)* also lack a spine, but can be distinguished from this species by having a light green leaf (*[D. elastica](/source/Drakaea_elastica)*) or having distinct veins in the leaf (*[D. glyptdon](/source/Drakaea_glyptodon)*). The [sepal](/source/Sepal) at the back of the flower is 12–15 millimetres (0.5–0.6 in) long and the two at the sides are 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in). The [petals](/source/Petals) are also 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in) long. The insect-like labellum has a head about half as long as the body and its stalk, measured from the hinge is 7–8 millimetres (0.28–0.31 in) long. Unlike some other hammer orchids, the labellum is all the same dark maroon colour. Flowers appear in August and September.[2]

## Taxonomy and naming

*Drakaea concolor* was first formally described by [Stephen Hopper](/source/Stephen_Hopper) and Andrew Brown in 2007. Their description was published in *[Australian Systematic Botany](/source/Australian_Systematic_Botany)*.[3] The [specific epithet](/source/Botanical_nomenclature) is from the [Latin](/source/Latin) *concolor* and alludes to the uniform dark colour of the labellum.[4]

## Distribution and habitat

The kneeling hammer orchid is only known from four areas near [Geraldton](/source/Geraldton), [Kalbarri](/source/Kalbarri%2C_Western_Australia), [Coorow](/source/Coorow%2C_Western_Australia) and [Northampton](/source/Northampton%2C_Western_Australia).[5] Its distribution is the most northerly of the genus. It grows in sand in [shrubland](/source/Shrubland) or [woodland](/source/Woodland).[2][6][7]

## Ecology

The kneeling hammer orchid is similar to other [hammer orchids](/source/Drakaea) in that it is [pollinated](/source/Pollination) by a single species of male [thynnid](/source/Thynnidae) [wasp](/source/Wasp) using sexual deception. The orchid's [labellum](/source/Labellum_(botany)) is similar in shape and scent to a flightless female thynnid wasp. The kneeling hammer orchid often grows in the same areas as other hammer orchids which are pollinated by a different species of thynnid wasp.[2]

## Conservation

In 2008, the total known population of mature, flowering plants in this species was estimated as 120.[8] 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.[9] The Australian Government lists its status under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act as "vulnerable". The main threats to the species' survival are fire during its growing and flowering stages and grazing or trampling by [pigs](/source/Feral_pig) and [goats](/source/Feral_goat) in some habitats.[2][5]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APC_1-0)** ["*Drakaea concolor*"](https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/219741). Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 July 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hopper_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hopper_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hopper_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hopper_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Hopper_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Hopper_2-5) 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): 262–264. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1071/SB06033](https://doi.org/10.1071%2FSB06033).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-APNI_3-0)** ["*Drakaea concolor*"](https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/646613). APNI. Retrieved 10 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-A.P.Br._4-0)** Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Garry (2013). *Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia*. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 236. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780980348149](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780980348149).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SPRAT_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SPRAT_5-1) ["*Drakaea concolor* — Kneeling Hammer-orchid SPRAT profile"](http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=56777). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 11 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-flora_6-0)** Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). *The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue*. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 85. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0646402439](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0646402439).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FloraBase_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FloraBase_7-1) ["*Drakaea concolor*"](https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/13633). *[FloraBase](/source/FloraBase)*. Western Australian Government [Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions](/source/Department_of_Biodiversity%2C_Conservation_and_Attractions).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-environment_(2)_8-0)** ["Approved Conservation Advice for *Drakaea concolor* Hopper & A.P. Brown nom. inval. (Kneeling Hammer-orchid)"](http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/82035-conservation-advice.pdf) (PDF). Government of Australia Department of the Environment. Retrieved 11 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-codes_9-0)** ["Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna"](https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/threatened-species/Listings/Conservation%20code%20definitions.pdf) (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 10 July 2019.

Taxon identifiers Drakaea concolor Wikidata: Q15458457 Wikispecies: Drakaea concolor APNI: 219741 BOLD: 432071 CoL: 37L9B EoL: 11844225 FloraBase: 13633 FoAO2: Drakaea concolor GBIF: 2833953 iNaturalist: 636315 IPNI: 77084176-1 NCBI: 152870 Observation.org: 475530 Open Tree of Life: 636179 Plant List: kew-346743 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77084176-1 Species+: 17096 SPRAT: 56777 Tropicos: 100183325 WFO: wfo-0000808508

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Drakaea concolor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drakaea_concolor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drakaea_concolor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.