Drakaea

Drakaea- Hammer Orchids
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The hammer orchids are my favourite orchids, especially the warty hammer orchid. Hammer orchids are generally found in sandy soil in clearings in forest areas and around winter wet areas. An exception is D. gracilis, which is found in mossy ironstone clearings. Drakea species grow up to 40cm high on a thin wiry stem with flowers up to 4cm across.

Drakaea livida Warty Hammer Orchid	Drakaea livida Warty Hammer Orchid	Drakaea livida Warty Hammer Orchid	Drakaea livida Warty Hammer Orchid
Drakea livida Warty Hammer Orchid	Drakaea livida Warty Hammer Orchid	Drakaea livida Warty Hammer Orchid	Drakaea livida Warty Hammer Orchid Showing leaves
Drakaea livida is one of the more common hammer orchids in the south west. This orchid is my favourite orchid.
Drakaea gracilis Kalamunda Hammer Orchid	Drakaea gracilis Kalamunda Hammer Orchid, Slender Hammer Orchid	Drakaea gracilis Kalamunda Hammer Orchid, Slender Hammer Orchid
Drakaea gracilis is similar to D. livida, but lacks the warts on the labellum. It also differs in that it is often found in mossy ironstone as well as the usual sandy soil.
Drakaea glyptodon King-in-his-Carriage	Drakaea glyptodon King-in-his-Carriage	Drakaea glyptodon King-in-his-Carriage
Drakaea glyptodon is the most common and widespread of the hammer orchids. Found in sandy ground from north of Jurien Bay to Esperance.
Drakaea thynniphila Narrow-lipped Hammer Orchid Note the spider on the flower	Drakaea thynniphila Narrow-lipped Hammer Orchid
Drakaea thynniphylla is the tallest of the hammer orchids, reaching more than 60cm in height. Found along the south coast of WA from Busselton to east of Albany.
Drakaea elastica Glossy-leafed Hammer Orchid	Drakaea elastica Glossy-leafed Hammer Orchid	Drakaea elastica Showing glossy leaf and sandy habitat.
Drakaea elastica is a rare species only found in a narrow coastal area between Perth and Capel. The leaf is smooth and glossy, hence the common name.