Genus: DROSERA
| A genus of over 100 species of sticky-leaved perrenials (and a few annuals,) distributed around the world in all climatic zones from the Arctic to sub-saharan Africa. Many are easily grown, and make excellent house plants if planted in peat:sand mix and stood in a saucer of rainwater on a sunny windowsill. |
Tuberous species:
| Species requiring completely dry dormancy in the summer, when they die back to tubers, sprouting again in the autumn. A sandy soil of 1:1 or 2:1 sand:peat should be used, and tubers should be planted 1-3" below the surface of trhe soil, with the conspicuous "eye" (the point at which the stolon will emerge,) pointing upwards. Tray water during the growing season (usually October-March or so,) and keep frost-free in full sun, but allow the pots to dry out completely in the summer with complete dessication being prevented by air humidity (a reasonably humid greenhouse will be sufficient, or wrap tubers in a little fresh but dry moss and seal in a plastic bag.) Most spp. produce 1 to several offset tubers a year, which can be dug up and replanted while the plant is dormant. Don't disturb the tubers after the stolon has emerged, and recommence watering when it appears above the soil. |
| Species: D. auriculata | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia | |
| Very similar to D.peltata. Indeed, some authorities consider this sp. to be no more than a subspecies: D.peltata ssp.auriculata. It tends to be greener and more robust and more often produce multiple flowers. Cultivation: as for D.peltata. |
| Species: D. banksii | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Rosette-forming sp.? |
| Species: D. bicolor | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Rosette-forming sp.with distinct green/red variegation. |
| Species: D. browniana | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Rosette-forming sp. |
| Species: D. bulbosa | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: bulbosa | Distribution: Australia |
| Forms a rosette of golden-yellow leaves up to 3" across, distinguished from the very similar, but redder, D.rosulata by the raised midrib and unspotted sepals. White flowers. Not as difficult to germinate as most tuberous spp. |
| Species: D. bulbosa | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: major | Distribution: Australia |
| Twice the size and redder than ssp.bulbosa |
| Species: D. erythrorhiza | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: collina | Distribution: Australia |
| 8-9" leaves, twice the size and more oval than ssp.erythrorhiza. The white flowers are strongly scented. |
| Species: D. erythrorhiza | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: erythrorhiza | Distribution: Australia |
| 3-5 round leaves, turning red in strong light, forming a rosette 3-4" across. White flowers. Not as difficult to germinate as most tuberous spp. |
| Species: D. erythrorhiza | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: imbecillia | Distribution: Australia |
| A smaller, greener form producing numerous offset tubers every season. |
| Species: D. erythrorhiza | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: magna | Distribution: Australia |
| 4-6 round leaves, forming a rosette up to 6" or more across. Reddens with age. |
| Species: D. gigantea | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: geniculata | Distribution: Australia |
| Rather smaller and greener than ssp.gigantea. In all other respects, it can be treated like ssp.gigantea. |
| Species: D. gigantea | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: gigantea | Distribution: Australia |
| An erect, wiry, treelike species growing to 3 feet or more in height! Green-red leaves and many white flowers. Very striking. Often the last sp. to go dormant in the Spring and one of the last to appear in the Autumn. Enjoys particularly sandy soil - say, 3:1 or even 4:1 sand:peat in a very large (8") pot. |
| Species: D. heterophylla | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| A tall, usually single-stemmed sp. growing to 12" and bearing several white flowers. The flowers are unusual in possessing up to a dozen petals, which close up at night. |
| Species: D. huegelii | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| A tall stem up to 18", bearing leaves only on its tp half, and producing a dense panicle of white flowers in the winter. |
| Species: D. lowriei | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Striking red and green rosettes up to 2", but a giant form exists that is twice the size. Produces white flowers that may be 5, 6 or 7-petalled, but usually 5. |
| Species: D. macrantha | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: macrantha | Distribution: Australia |
| A long, climbing plant up to 5 feet long that scrambles up through long grasses and shrubs in its native habitat. For best effect needs staking to a mini trellis or similar. |
| Species: D. marchantii | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: marchantii | Distribution: Australia |
| An erect sp. growing to 9 or 10" and branching occasionally. Pink flowers. |
| Species: D. menziesii | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: menziesii | Distribution: Australia |
| An erect sp. growing to 16" or so, and branching occasionally. Bears several dark pink flowers in the winter. An erect and branching sp. growing to 12" or so. White flowers. |
| Species: D. myriantha | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| An erect and branching sp. growing to 12" or so. White flowers. |
| Species: D. neesii | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: neesii | Distribution: Australia |
| An erect, unbranched sp. growing up to 24". Yellow flowers distinguish this from ssp. borealis, which has pink flowers. |
| Species: D. nivea | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Rosette-forming sp. |
| Species: D. orbiculata | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| A sparse rosette 2" across of 5 or 6 round leaves, producing 5 or 6 white flowers. |
| Species: D. ordensis | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Rosette-forming sp. |
| Species: D. pallida | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Scrambling, unbranched sp. up to 5 feet long that climbs through grasses and low shrubs in its native habitat bearing a panicle of white flowers at the apex. For best effect needs staking to a mini trellis or similar. |
| Species: D. peltata | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: peltata | Distribution: Australia |
| A tall and graceful species with peltate leaves, climbing to a height of 8-10 inches before producing 1 or 2 light pink flowers. This species will grow all year round if kept damp, making it ideally suited to beginners who find the dormancy requirements for most tuberous species confusing or worrying. Not as difficult to germinate as most tuberous spp. . |
| Species: D. praefolia | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Rosette-forming sp. |
| Species: D. ramellosa | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Basal rosette from which emerge 1 to several short, erect stems up to 5". White flowers, occasionally tinged with pink, are borne on short scapes emerging from the basal rosette. |
| Species: D. salina | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Green basal rosette from which emerges a single red, erect stem 3 or 4" long, bearing a single white flower. Enjoys a sandier soil than most tuberous spp. |
| Species: D. stenopetala | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Erect sp. |
| Species: D. stolonifera | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: compacta | Distribution: Australia |
| A compact form, half the height of ssp.stolonifera. |
| Species: D. stolonifera | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: humilis | Distribution: Australia |
| Less robust and redder form than ssp.stolonifera, producing semi-erect stems up to 6" long. |
| Species: D. stolonifera | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: porrecta | Distribution: Australia |
| A single erect stem before flowering, up to 18" long, distinguishes this from ssp.stolonifera. |
| Species: D. stolonifera | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: prostrata | Distribution: Australia |
| A creeping form that spreads out along the ground bearing triplets of leaves along its stems. Produces numerous offset tubers every season. |
| Species: D. stolonifera | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: rupicola | Distribution: Australia |
| Pale gold-green plant, with 3-5 erect 3-6" stems emerging from a larger basal rosette than ssp.stolonifera. |
| Species: D. stolonifera | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: stolonifera | Distribution: Australia |
| Erect, branching sp. with a robust habit. Stems up to 4" tall, remaining green, bearing yellow-red leaves in whorls along their length. A large panicle of white flowers is borne on a single thick scape emerging from the base of the plant. |
| Species: D. subhirtella | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: moorei | Distribution: Australia |
| Red, climbing plant up to 9" long bearing bright yellow flowers. |
| Species: D. subhirtella | Common Name: None |
| Subspecies: subhirtella | Distribution: Australia |
| Orangey-red, climbing plant up to 16" long bearing pale yellow flowers. |
| Species: D. subtilis | Common Name: None |
| Distribution: Australia |
| Rosette-forming sp.? |
| Species: D. whittakeri | Common Name: Red Ink Sundew |
| Distribution: Australia |
| White scented flowrs from a rosette of flat leaves. The common name is derived from the fact that early settlers in Australia used the roots in the production of red inks and dyes. |
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