{{Short description|Species of orchid endemic to Western Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Italic title}} {{Speciesbox | name = Late hammer orchid | status = EN | status_system = EPBC | genus = Drakaea | species = confluens | authority = [[Stephen Hopper|Hopper]] & [[Andrew Phillip Brown|A.P.Br.]]<ref name=APC>{{cite web|title=''Drakaea confluens''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/219742|publisher=Australian Plant Census|accessdate=11 July 2019}}</ref> | synonyms = }}
'''''Drakaea confluens''''', commonly known as '''late hammer orchid''', is a species of [[orchid]] [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Southwest Australia|south–west]] of [[Western Australia]]. It is similar to other [[Drakaea|hammer orchids]] in that it is [[Pollination|pollinated]] by a single species of male [[Thynnidae|thynnid]] [[wasp]] using sexual deception. The orchid's [[Labellum (botany)|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.
== Description == 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 {{convert|20|mm|in|sigfig=1}} 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 {{convert|15-30|cm|in|sigfig=1}} long and the stalk of the single flower is {{convert|10-12|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long.<ref name="Hopper" /><ref name="Brown">{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Andrew |last2=Dixon |first2=Kingsley |last3=French |first3=Christopher |last4=Brockman |first4=Gary |title=Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia |date=2013 |publisher=Simon Nevill Publications |isbn=9780980348149 |page=237}}</ref>
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 (botany)|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 {{convert|9-11|mm|in|sigfig=2}} 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.<ref name=Hopper>{{cite journal|last1=Hopper|first1=Stephen D.|last2=Brown|first2=Andrew P.|title=A revision of Australia' s hammer orchids (Drakaea: Orchidaceae), with some field data on species-specific sexually deceived wasp pollinators|journal=Australian Systematic Botany|date=2007|volume=20|issue=3|pages=264–265|doi=10.1071/SB06033}}</ref>
== Taxonomy and naming == ''Drakaea confluens'' was discovered and first collected near [[Gnowangerup, Western Australia|Gnowangerup]] by Mrs. P. Andrews. There were no other collections until 1982 from [[Shire of Boyup Brook|Boyup Brook]]. The species was first formally described by [[Stephen Hopper]] and Andrew Brown in 2007. Their description was published in ''[[Australian Systematic Botany]]''.<ref name=APNI>{{cite web|title=''Drakaea confluens''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/646614|publisher=APNI|accessdate=11 July 2019}}</ref> 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 ''[[Drakaea livida|D. livida]]'' and ''[[Drakaea elastica|D. elastica]]''.<ref name="Hopper" /><ref name="Brown" />
== Distribution and habitat == The late hammer orchid is only known from three [[Disjunct distribution|disjunct]] populations in the Boyup Brook district, [[Stirling Range National Park]] and [[Porongurup National Park]].<ref name="Hopper" /><ref name=SPRAT>{{cite web|title=''Drakaea confluens'' — Late Hammer-orchid SPRAT profile|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=56778|publisher=Australian Government Department of the Environment|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> It grows in sand in [[shrubland]] or [[woodland]].<ref name="Hopper" /><ref name=flora>{{cite book|last1=Paczkowska|first1=Grazyna|last2=Chapman|first2=Alex R.|title=The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue|date=2000|publisher=Wildflower Society of Western Australia|location=Perth|isbn=0646402439|page=85}}</ref><ref name=FloraBase>{{FloraBase|name=''Drakaea confluens''|id =13634}}</ref>
== Conservation == The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife classifies the species as "threatened"<ref name="FloraBase" /> meaning that it is considered likely to become extinct, or rare and in need of special protection.<ref name=codes>{{cite web|title=Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna|url=https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/threatened-species/Listings/Conservation%20code%20definitions.pdf|publisher=Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife|accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref> 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 [[Phytophthora cinnamomi|dieback disease]].<ref name ="Hopper" /><ref name="SPRAT" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15458629}}
[[Category:Drakaea|confluens]] [[Category:Orchids of Western Australia]] [[Category:Endemic orchids of Australia]] [[Category:Plants described in 2007]] [[Category:Endemic flora of Southwest Australia]] [[Category:Taxa named by Stephen Hopper]]