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Drakaea elastica
Also called Praying Virgin
Drakaea elastica, commonly known as glossy-leaved hammer orchid or praying virgin 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 flightless female thynnid wasp. The glossy-leaved hammer orchid was the first in the genus to be described. The species is only known from the far south-west of the state and has been declared "endangered" by both the Australian government and the government of Western Australia.
The glossy-leaved hammer orchid is only known from the Cataby and Busselton districts in the Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic zone. It grows in deep sand in woodland in low-lying areas near temporary swamps.
Lost Hammer Orchid · Kneeling Hammer Orchid · Late Hammer Orchid · King In His Carriage · Slender Hammer Orchid · Lonely Hammer Orchid · Warty Hammer Orchid · Dwarf Hammer Orchid · Narrow Lipped Hammer Orchid · Hammer Orchids
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Drakaea elastica by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
