Drakaea micrantha (Drakaea micrantha)
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 10 millimetres (0.4 in) in diameter, silvery-grey dark green and rather glossy with darker green veins radiating from the leaf attachment. The stem is 15–30 centimetres (6–10 in) long and the stalk of the single flower is 10–15 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in) long.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, and a labellum with a straight end and a narrow "neck". The sepal at the back of the flower is 7–10 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) long and the two at the sides are 6–9 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in). The petals are also 6–9 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) 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.
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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