The carnivorous Drosera microphylla complex from southwest Western Australia comprises a group of rare, narrowly endemic species that are potentially threatened by habitat destruction and illegal collection, thus highlighting a need for accurate taxonomic classification to facilitate conservation efforts. Following extensive fieldwork over two decades, detailed studies of both Australian and European herbaria and consideration of both crucial contributions by citizen scientists and social media observations, nine species of the D. microphylla complex are here described and illustrated, including four new species: D. atrata, D. hortiorum, D. koikyennuruff, and D. reflexa. The identities of the previously described infraspecific taxa D. calycina var. minor and D. microphylla var. macropetala are clarified. Both are here lectotypified, reinstated, and elevated to species rank. A replacement name, D. rubricalyx, is provided for the former taxon. Key morphological characters distinguishing the species of this complex include the presence or absence of axillary leaves, lamina shape, petal colour, filament shape, and style length. A detailed identification key, comparison figures, and a distribution map are provided. Six of the nine species are recommended for inclusion on the Priority Flora List under the Conservation Codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna.
The Drosera of the subgenus Bryastrum, commonly referred to as pygmy sundews are unique to the genus in that all bar one produce vegetative clonal propagules known as gemmae. These gemmae are thought to be dispersed via a novel adaptation known as a splash-cup, but little is known about its effectiveness or other strategies employed by the plants. In this preliminary study, the splash-cup was tested and its effectiveness measured. The role of the stipules, which form the walls of the splash-cup were also examined along with other features of the plants’ architecture. The splash-cup was found to play a critical role in gemmae dispersal while the theory that the stipules perform as spring-loaded catapults was unsupported. Additionally, gemmae were found to either sink or float depending on the taxon. Observational evidence is provided which suggests the structure of a gemma plays a significant role in the success of each taxon in its preferred habitat.
The species that comprise Drosera section Prolifera, Drosera adelae, D. prolifera, and D. schizandra, or as commonly known, “The Three Sisters”, are endemic to Far North Queensland. They are unique to the genus in that they are found growing exclusively in rainforest habitat. Over the past 8 years the authors have made four separate field trips to observe these unusual and uncommon Drosera. The literature published to date on these taxa is general, often based on observations of cultivated plants. One can easily form the superficial view that they grow relatively close to each other in similar micro-habitats, it is only when herbarium sheets, field observations, and personal accounts are scrutinized that a different story emerges. The objective of this account is to show the broad area these species occur and to highlight the similarities and differences in their micro-habitat. Australia is a vast continent and the area that these species inhabit is approximately a 400 km stretch of hinterland that runs roughly parallel to the coast from Townsville, north to Cape Tribulation.
The cultivars Utricularia 'Brazilian Beauty' and Sarracenia 'Leigha Simone' are described.
The cultivars Utricularia 'Brazilian Beauty' and Sarracenia 'Leigha Simone' are described.