{{Short description|Species of orchid endemic to Western Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Speciesbox | name = Dwarf hammer orchid |status = VU |status_system = EPBC | genus = Drakaea | species = micrantha | authority = [[Stephen Hopper|Hopper]] & [[Andrew Brown (taxonomist)|A.P.Br.]] (2007) | subdivision_ranks = | subdivision = | synonyms = }}
'''''Drakaea micrantha''''', commonly known as the '''dwarf 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 flightless female thynnid wasp. It has a single silvery-grey, heart-shaped leaf with prominent green veins and a stem up to {{convert|30|cm|in|sigfig=2}} long. The species is only known from a scattered populations in the south west of the state and has been declared "vulnerable" by the Australian government and "threatened" by the government of Western Australia.
== Description == ''Drakaea micrantha'' 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|10|mm|in|sigfig=1}} in diameter, silvery-grey dark green and rather glossy with darker green veins radiating from the leaf attachment. The stem is {{convert|15-30|cm|in|sigfig=1}} long and the stalk of the single flower is {{convert|10-15|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long.<ref name="Hopper" />
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 having a spine on the [[Column (botany)|column]], and a labellum with a straight end and a narrow "neck". The [[sepal]] at the back of the flower is {{convert|7-10|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long and the two at the sides are {{convert|6-9|mm|in|sigfig=1}}. The [[petals]] are also {{convert|6-9|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long. The insect-like labellum has a head about half as long as the body and is hairy for at least half its length. The "body" of the labellum is dark-coloured, slightly swollen and has a few hairs. Flowers appear in September and October.<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=278–280|doi=10.1071/SB06033}}</ref>
== Taxonomy and naming == ''Drakaea micrantha'' 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 micrantha|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/646621|publisher=APNI|accessdate=15 October 2017}}</ref> The [[Botanical nomenclature|specific epithet]] (''micrantha'') is derived from the [[Ancient Greek]] ''μικρός (mikrós)'' meaning "small" or "little"<ref name="RWB">{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>{{rp|488}} and ''ἄνθος (ánthos)'' meaning "flower",<ref name="RWB" />{{rp|338}} referring to the flower of this species being the smallest of the genus.<ref name="Hopper" />
== Distribution and habitat == The dwarf hammer orchid occurs at [[Perth]], [[Augusta, Western Australia|Augusta]] and [[Porongurup National Park]]<ref name="Hopper" /> It grows in bare sand in [[woodland]], often near ''[[Kunzea glabrescens]]'' thickets.<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 micrantha''|id =13635}}</ref>
== Conservation == ''Drakaea micrantha'' is known from 32 small, scattered populations and the total population of mature plants was estimated in 2007 to be about 514.<ref name=environment(1)>{{cite web|title=Approved Conservation Advice for Drakaea micrantha (Dwarf Hammer-orchid)|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/81853-conservation-advice.pdf|publisher=Government of Western Australia Department of the Environment|accessdate=14 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=SPRAT>{{cite web|title=Drakaea micrantha — Dwarf Hammer-orchid SPRAT Profile|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=56755|publisher=Government of Western Australia Department of the Environment|accessdate=14 November 2015}}</ref> 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 "vulnerable". The main threat to the species' survival is fire during its growing and flowering stages between June and early October.<ref name ="Hopper" /><ref name="SPRAT" />
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15459435}}
[[Category:Drakaea|micrantha]] [[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]]