Photo: Michal Rubeš By Terri Allen
WINTER is enlivened by the appearance on damp sandy soils of sundews (droseras), which in spring put forth minute white or pink blooms, becoming dormant in late summer. These small carnivorous perennials usually grow in nitrogen-deficient soil, so need to lure insects to supplement their diet.
WINTER is enlivened by the appearance on damp sandy soils of sundews (droseras), which in spring put forth minute white or pink blooms, becoming dormant in late summer. These small carnivorous perennials usually grow in nitrogen-deficient soil, so need to lure insects to supplement their diet.
Sundews with their sticky leaves and shining five-petalled flowers are among the most easily recognised plants of our Australian bushland. Their botanical name Drosera means dewy. The upper surfaces of their unusual leaves are covered with fine hairy tentacles tipped with sticky red glands. In sunshine they glisten like crowded ranks of miniature light poles on a platform. Climbing sundews are often called Rain bow Sundews, a very apt name, for these plants trail in delicate gleaming arcs amongst the bushes that support them.
The tentacles on sundews' leaves are active traps because they move to enfold their prey ... A mosquito or gnat becomes entangled within a few seconds even if it touches only one tentacle. Its struggles not only bring it in contact with other tentacles, but each tentacle transmits a stimulus to others, and in response they too will bend through an angle of 100 degrees towards the centre to help enfold the victim.
... each tentacle secretes in the gland at its tip a digestive juice. Over a period of days the soluble matter of its prey is reduced to a fluid that is absorbed by the plant. The tentacles then assume their first position, fanned out and gluey tipped, ready to trap the unwary. The dry husks of the earlier victims drop lightly from the leaf and the table is set for another meal (Erickson, R, 1978).
Many droseras are believed to be poisonous to livestock, and most have tubers. Dyes and stains are obtained from the pressed plants or tubers; indeed, early settlers used these for ink.
Worldwide there are 90 sundews, 56 of them in Australia; 80 per cent of these are confined to south-western WA. We are fortunate in Victoria to have seven species.
The tentacles on sundews' leaves are active traps because they move to enfold their prey ... A mosquito or gnat becomes entangled within a few seconds even if it touches only one tentacle. Its struggles not only bring it in contact with other tentacles, but each tentacle transmits a stimulus to others, and in response they too will bend through an angle of 100 degrees towards the centre to help enfold the victim.
... each tentacle secretes in the gland at its tip a digestive juice. Over a period of days the soluble matter of its prey is reduced to a fluid that is absorbed by the plant. The tentacles then assume their first position, fanned out and gluey tipped, ready to trap the unwary. The dry husks of the earlier victims drop lightly from the leaf and the table is set for another meal (Erickson, R, 1978).
Many droseras are believed to be poisonous to livestock, and most have tubers. Dyes and stains are obtained from the pressed plants or tubers; indeed, early settlers used these for ink.
Worldwide there are 90 sundews, 56 of them in Australia; 80 per cent of these are confined to south-western WA. We are fortunate in Victoria to have seven species.
Climbing Sundew Photo: Michal Rubeš Climbing Sundew Drosera macrantha (= large-flowered).
Widespread and found in all states but Queensland, the sweetly perfumed climbing sundew flowers from June to October. Stems are up to 600mm, trailing over low shrubs and up into higher bushes, the leaves round and long-stalked. The large white flowers are showy, one of the first flowerers in the Wonthaggi Heathland at the end of winter.
Widespread and found in all states but Queensland, the sweetly perfumed climbing sundew flowers from June to October. Stems are up to 600mm, trailing over low shrubs and up into higher bushes, the leaves round and long-stalked. The large white flowers are showy, one of the first flowerers in the Wonthaggi Heathland at the end of winter.
Photo: Rkitko Forked Sundew Drosera binata (=leaf divided into two leaflets)
Found in all states and widespread, the forked sundew flowers from spring though summer, mainly in wet places. It is found in the Wonthaggi Heathland and around streams and ponds in Wilsons Prom. Leaves are 50-450mm long, narrow pale green to reddish, erect and strap-shaped, the blade forked into a Y, the arms fringed with sensitive hairs. The erect flower stalk is often larger than the leaves, with a branched cluster of cupped white flowers.
Found in all states and widespread, the forked sundew flowers from spring though summer, mainly in wet places. It is found in the Wonthaggi Heathland and around streams and ponds in Wilsons Prom. Leaves are 50-450mm long, narrow pale green to reddish, erect and strap-shaped, the blade forked into a Y, the arms fringed with sensitive hairs. The erect flower stalk is often larger than the leaves, with a branched cluster of cupped white flowers.
Photo: Marius Grathwohl Tiny Sundew Drosera pygmaea
(=dwarf)
Occurring in south-east Australia and New Zealand in damp sands and heathlands, this tiny jewel flowers in spring and summer, generally in coastal areas. It has a minute rosette of round or spoon-shaped leaves, usually pinkish. The tiny white single flowers are on stalks up to 45mm long. They grow in conjunction with Hundreds and Thousands, Stylidium inundatum, around trackside water in the Wonthaggi Heathland.
(=dwarf)
Occurring in south-east Australia and New Zealand in damp sands and heathlands, this tiny jewel flowers in spring and summer, generally in coastal areas. It has a minute rosette of round or spoon-shaped leaves, usually pinkish. The tiny white single flowers are on stalks up to 45mm long. They grow in conjunction with Hundreds and Thousands, Stylidium inundatum, around trackside water in the Wonthaggi Heathland.
Photo: Riddells Creek Landcare Pale Sundew Drosera peltata ssp peltata (=shield-like)
Found in all Australian states, Sri Lanka, S E Asia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, this sundew inhabits a variety of sites, including dry sand. It has a basal rosette of pale green round leaves and produces hairy flower buds and white/pale pink flowers from August to January; these flowers rarely open until noon. This is a common sundew in our area, its seeds ovoid and less than 0.6mm long. It has a greener appearance and smaller flowers than its cousin, tall sundew, but it is difficult to distinguish them in the field.
Found in all Australian states, Sri Lanka, S E Asia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, this sundew inhabits a variety of sites, including dry sand. It has a basal rosette of pale green round leaves and produces hairy flower buds and white/pale pink flowers from August to January; these flowers rarely open until noon. This is a common sundew in our area, its seeds ovoid and less than 0.6mm long. It has a greener appearance and smaller flowers than its cousin, tall sundew, but it is difficult to distinguish them in the field.
Photo: Barry Rice Tall Sundew Drosera peltata ssp auriculata
(= ear-like lobe)
More prolific in Gippsland and found in south-east Australia and New Zealand, it has similar habitats and seasons, but differs in that it can reach 300mm in height, its cup-like flowers are pink, it has smooth buds, the linear seeds are up to 1mm long and it often lacks a basal rosette.
(= ear-like lobe)
More prolific in Gippsland and found in south-east Australia and New Zealand, it has similar habitats and seasons, but differs in that it can reach 300mm in height, its cup-like flowers are pink, it has smooth buds, the linear seeds are up to 1mm long and it often lacks a basal rosette.
Photo: Jan Wieneke Scented Sundew Drosera whittakeri This sundew has a bronze-red or green rosette of spoon-shaped leaves, the rosette to 50mm wide, with several large white single flowers on stalks, the flowers larger than the leaves. After flowering, the stalks bend over to bury the dead bloom below the leaves. It is found in South Australia and Victoria, mainly west of Melbourne, but also around Western Port and Yarram from July to October.
Photo: Barry Rice Rosy Sundew Drosera spatulata (=spoon-shaped) Found mainly in the Grampians and East Gippsland, as well as Queensland, NSW, Tasmania and New Zealand on rich clays and sands overlaying clays, rosy sundew flowers from December to March. It has a 40mm rosette of red spoon-shaped leaves and erect leafless stem with little pink stalkless flowers. These are fascinating little plants, much loved by children.
Reference: Erickson, Rica. Plants of Prey, UWAP, 1978, 13.