Victorian Drosera

Common name

Fork leaved sundew.

Flowering time

Spring and Summer.

Flower Colour

White

Flower Details

Numerous flowers per stem.Many stems can be produced.

Roots

Long,thick roots.

Height

15-40cm.

Diameter

10-20cm.

Habit

Loose rosette of leaves with very long petioles.

Habitat

Areas that are wet for the whole year often near streams or swamps.At its best in full sun but can grow in shade as well.

Conservation Status

Widespread but not very common in Victoria.More common in Tasmania and NSW.Can be found in all states of Australia except the Northern Territory.

Dormancy

Winter

Notes

The Victorian T form is one of the smallest Drosera binatas and has leaves forked once or twice, lamina 2 - 10 cm long,petiole 15-30cm in length. When young, lamina are rolled up.This drosera often grows in and around dense vegetation.It is common to see the glandular part of the leaf and flowers rising just above the surrounding vegetation.Also many plants grow in the shade under dense vegetation where they probably do not flower until a wild fire clears the surrounding vegetation allowing more light to get through.As with most Australian CPs Drosera binata greatly benefits from fires.Winter dormancy may be explained due to winter light levels usually being too low for the plants to survive.Even though it grows in the wettest of habitats it is actually drought and fire resistant due to its large thick roots.

Common name

Pimpernel sundew.

Flowering time

Spring.

Flower Colour

Orange.

Flower Details

Numerous flowers per stem.Many stems can be produced.

Roots

Fine.

Height

less than 1cm when not flowering.

Diameter

3-8cm.

Habit

Rosetted annual.

Habitat

Moist,well drained with plenty of light.Habitat is hot and dry in summer.

Conservation Status

Common and widespread in drier areas.

Dormancy

None

Notes

This species prefers drier conditions than most other Victorian drosera. Annual plant which grows from winter to late spring which corresponds to the wettest and coolest part of the year. At other times its habitat is difficult for plants to grow in. Rare in cultivation as it is very difficult to cultivate,it is very sensitive to growing conditions,especially temperature. Also it won't develop properly without extra nutrients which usually come from insects. So this plant is more dependant on its carnivorous diet than most other CPs.In its native habitat this isn't a problem but in cultivation it can be. This plant has special fast moving tentacles on the outer edges of its leaves.When triggered by touch they move so fast that the movement is plainly visible to the unaided eye.The tentacles secure any small crawling insects that stray too close to the leaf so that they may be digested by the slower moving glands near the centre of the leaf.The lamina is concave so that a larger surface area comes into contact with prey and also to avoid the products of digestion being washed away by the light and frequent rains.

Common name

Indian sundew.

Flowering time

Spring.

Flower Colour

White,pink or Orange.

Flower Details

Numerous flowers per stem.

Roots

Fine.

Height

10-30cm.

Diameter

10-20cm

Habit

Short erect or climbing stem.Annual.Linear leaves arranged along the stem.

Habitat

Semi desert but when the plants grow it is moist,well drained with plenty of light.Habitat is hot and usually dry in summer.

Conservation Status

No reports of this form being seen in the last 10 years or so.Other forms and varieties are common in warmer parts of Australia.

Dormancy

None

Notes

This species prefers drier conditions than most other Victorian drosera.Like many of Australias desert or semi desert plants it grows only after good rains and can remain dormant as seed for years.Only one stem is produced. Developing leaves are rolled inwardly as seen in ferns,this is the opposite to Byblis a similar looking plant with which it grows in northern Australia.The leaves of Drosera indica have carnivorous glands mainly on the upper surface of the leaf which means it is primarily adapted to catch flying insects.Drosera indica is widespread and common in the tropics of Australia and Asia but is a lot less common in cooler areas and the Victorian variety is probably the most cold tolerant form in the world.

Common name

Bridal rainbow.

Flowering time

Spring.

Flower Colour

White.

Flower Details

Numerous flowers per stem.

Roots

Fine with a central white tuber.Mature tuber 1-3cm in diameter.

Height

10-150cm.

Diameter

5-10cm.

Habit

Climbing stem attaching to other plants via its sticky leaves.Flowers are produced at the top of the stem. Leaves on relatively short petioles arranged along entire length of the stem with the exception of the first 10-20cm.

Habitat

Moist,well drained with plenty of light.Habitat is hot and dry in summer.

Conservation Status

Common and widespread.

Dormancy

Summer.

Notes

This species prefers drier conditions than other Victorian drosera.Only one green or red stem is produced.The leaves are bell shaped hanging downwards and may be green or red.This plant is usually the first to break dormancy of any Victorian tuberous drosera,usually in March to May.It can happily grow in dry conditions for the first few weeks after breaking dormancy.Often seen near Drosera glanduligera.D.Macrantha planchonii is very similar to the Western Australian version which is Drosera macrantha macrantha.Although usually a smaller plant than its Western Australian relative it has been known to reach a similar size in good conditions.

Common name

Pygmy sundew.

Flowering time

Spring and Summer

Flower Colour

White.

Flower Details

4 white petals which is unique for Pygmy Drosera.One flower per stem.Many stems are produced each season.

Roots

Fine.Aprroximately 5cm long in a mature plant.

Height

<1cm.(not including flower stalk)

Diameter

5-20mm.

Habit

Flat rosette.

Habitat

Moist,well drained and wet areas with plenty of light.Habitat may dry out in summer.

Conservation Status

Common and widespread.

Dormancy

Mostly none,may go dormant in summer in a dry season.

Notes

A rosetted drosera that can grow throughout the year.Leaves crowded in a flat rosette.Lamina small and round,have carnivorous glands on tentacles on the upper surface.Some of the outer tentacles can move relatively rapidly,180 degrees in a second or so.This helps to secure prey although the usual prey is tiny. This plant belongs to a group called Pygmy Drosera and it is the only one of its group to grow in Victoria.Pygmy drosera are characterized by their small size,relatively large stipule bud and unique ability to reproduce asexually via gemmae within the drosera genus.Drosera Pygmae is very adaptable,able to grow all year long or it can go dormant over summer in a dry situation.It can also survive as an annual being able to reproduce prolifically from seed.It can be extremely hard to spot in the wild especially if it has few leaves.

Common name

Spoon leaved sundew.

Flowering time

Spring and Summer

Flower Colour

White or pink.

Flower Details

Numerous small (<1cm) flowers per stem.1-3 stems are produced each season

Roots

Fine.

Height

1cm.(not including flower stalk)

Diameter

2-6cm.

Habit

Flat rosette.

Habitat

Moist,well drained and wet areas for most or all of the year with plenty of light.

Conservation Status

Uncommon in Victoria with many habitats drying out due to global warming

Dormancy

None

Notes

A sun loving plant that can also grow in part shade.It usually has a reddish colour when growing in full sun and is greenish in part shade with larger leaves.Leaves are arranged in a crowded flat rosette.This drosera can grow throughout the year but in difficult seasons survives as an annual.Often found near Drosera Binata as it requires a similar habitat.Propagation in the wild is mainly from seed which is produced at a prolific rate in summer and usually germinates soon after.

Common name

Scented sundew.

Flowering time

Winter and Spring

Flower Colour

White.

Flower Details

One 3cm diameter flower per stem,rarely more.Numerous stems are produced each season.Sweet perfume.

Roots

Fine with a central red,orange or pale tuber.Mature tuber is about 1cm in diameter.

Height

1cm.

Diameter

2-5cm.

Habit

Flat rosette of wide leaves.

Habitat

Moist,well drained and wet areas,often in a shaded position but happy in full sun as well.Habitat is dry in summer.

Conservation Status

Very numerous and widespread except in the far east of the state.The most common carnivorous plant in Victoria. Primarily a Victorian species but can also be found in neighbouring states such as South Australia and New South Wales.

Dormancy

Summer.

Notes

Formerly known as Drosera whittakeri and Drosera whittakeri ssp aberrans. A rosetted tuberous drosera.Reddish in full sun and green in the shade.All green forms have been found as well as an anthocyanin free form.This particular species commonly propagates through stolons shooting underground and forming new tubers.Colonies of hundreds of plants are often produced this way.However this plant probably cannot produce new plants easily far away from the parent.Via stolons it can go a few centimetres per year and via seed not much further as it is produced close to the ground and is not readily dispersed by the wind.This means that it is slow to colonise new habitat and perhaps explains the lack of plants in suitable habitats in eastern Victoria.

Flowering time

Spring and Summer

Flower Colour

White.

Flower Details

Approximately 1cm flowers on a single stem.Numerous flowers per stem

Roots

Fine with a central tuber.

Height

10-30cm.

Diameter

2-5cm.

Habit

Erect stem with a basal rosette.

Habitat

Moist and wet areas,usually in full sun.Sea level to alpine areas.Habitat may dry out in the summer.

Conservation Status

Widespread,not common in Victoria but more common in NSW and Tasmania.

Dormancy

Summer,Autumn or winter depending on elevation.Alpine forms have a winter dormancy.

Notes

This plant is often characterised by a reddish color and in Victoria mainly grows near streams and swamps.The sepals of the flower are hairy.A common characteristic of this plant is to have a very red basal rosette with the red colour diminishing with height.So the top of the mature plant may end up being green.There are different varieties or possibly subspecies in other parts of Australia such as NSW and Queensland.

Flowering time

Spring and Summer

Flower Colour

White or pink.

Flower Details

5-30 1cm diameter flowers on a single sometimes branching stem.Self pollinating.

Roots

Fine with a central tuber.Tubers are pale and can get to over an inch in diameter in good seasons.

Height

10-70cm or more,full height reached at flowering time.

Diameter

3-8cm.

Habit

Erect stem with leaves coming from the stem on relatively short petioles.

Habitat

Moist,well drained areas ,often in a shaded position.Just above sea level to sub alpine areas.Habitat usually dry in summer.

Conservation Status

Common and widespread.

Dormancy

Summer - Winter.Sub alpine forms have a autumn/winter dormancy

Notes

Sometimes has a flat rosette of stalked leaves as is usual with the typical D.peltata.In most cases easily identified by the glabrous sepals of its flowers,more accurately this species is distinguished by its cylindrical seed.Often this plant grows in forests on hills and mountains.It is not usually found near the Drosera peltata or Drosera hookeri which grows on wetter ground.Usually a single green stem.Red forms have been found and these occur in mountainous areas.The reddish sub-alpine forms are markedly different and may be a seperate sub species or variety.This is one of the tallest Victorian drosera and a spectacular plant in good seasons.As is typical for many stem forming tuberous drosera the lamina have two areas with extra long tenatcles and these may serve to secure relatively large prey.Rather than being round the lamina part of the leaf tends to a sort of V shape and is also concave.The fact that it is concave not only brings a larger glandular area in contact with prey but assists in keeping the frequent and light rain from washing away the products of digestion.

Common name

Pale sundew.

Flowering time

Spring.

Flower Colour

White or pink.

Flower Details

5-20 1cm diameter flowers on a single sometimes branching stem.

Roots

Fine with a central tuber.Mature tuber about 1cm in diameter.

Height

10-50cm,full height reached at flowering time.

Diameter

3-6cm.

Habit

Erect stem with leaves coming from the stem.

Habitat

Moist to wet areas ,often around the edges of streams and swamps.Habitat is dry in summer.

Conservation Status

Common and widespread.

Dormancy

Summer.

Notes

This group of plants was formerly considered to be taxanomically closer to Drosera peltata and is still mistakenly referred to as D.peltata,however it has been shown to be a type of the variable Drosera hookeri. Latest research here. This entry has been kept to show how variable the Drosera hookeri group is.The stem for this variety is much longer lasting than for the shorter growing type. Usually a single green stem.A red form has been found in the west of the state and is uncommon. Leaves in a flat rosette and also along the stem.The leaves shoot from the stem singly but as the plant matures it is possible to get a couple of smaller leaves shooting from the same point.The lamina are small, about 1cm across,point away from the stem are held almost horizontaly and have the rough V shape which is common for so many stem forming tuberous drosera.It is interesting to note that this leaf is very similar in shape to an immature Drosera binata leaf.Perhaps there is a reasonably close connection between Drosera binata and the Drosera peltata complex.This is supported by the fact that Drosera binata has thick almost tuber like roots. This plant is easy to cultivate and exists around the world in numerous CP collections.

Common name

Pale sundew.

Flowering time

Spring.

Flower Colour

White,occasionally pink.

Flower Details

5-20 1cm diameter flowers on a single sometimes branching stem.

Roots

Fine with a central tuber

Height

2-30cm,full height reached at flowering time.

Diameter

3-6cm.

Habit

Many short stems with leaves coming from the stem.Sometimes has no stem at all.

Habitat

Wet areas ,often around the edges of streams and swamps.Habitat is dry in summer.

Conservation Status

Common and widespread.

Dormancy

Summer.

Notes

Has been known as Drosera foliosa or Drosera peltata ssp foliosa in the past. Usually has many light green stems and sometimes only one. Leaves in a flat rosette and also along the stems.Has hairy sepals.This species prefers wetter environments than other Victorian tuberous drosera.A form has been found that has no stem with the flowers growing directly from the basal rosette.This plant is rarely seen in cultivation as it is very difficult to cultivate long term.

Flowering time

Summer

Flower Colour

White

Flower Details

One 1cm diameter flower per stem.1-3 stems produced each season.

Roots

Fibrous

Height

5cm,can produce a stem to 15cm but this is usually covered.

Diameter

5-10cm.

Habit

Loose Rosette

Habitat

Wet alpine and sub alpine areas that are covered in snow in winter ,often around the edges of streams and pools. Grows only in sunny locations but due to elevation these locations are always cool (approximately 15C maximum).Often found in masses growing in live sphagnum moss.Also found in Tasmania,New Zealand and New South Wales mainly in mountainous areas.

Conservation Status

Uncommon in Victoria,confined to high mountain areas. Common in other areas such as Tasmania.

Dormancy

Winter

Notes

Leaves in a convex rosette reminiscent of Drosera Capensis with fewer leaves.The leaves which are approximately 5cm long consist of a petiole and lamina of approximately equal lengths.The lamina is wider than the petiole.Hard to cultivate unless you can provide the cold,sunny conditions.