Cormous sundew (Drosera auriculata)
Thanks to the NZ Carnivorous Plant Society http://www.nzcps.co.nz and to John Dodunski of New Plymouth
and the web site http://www.cpphotofinder.com/
Carnivorous plants
Carnivorous plants are those that derive some or most of their nutrients by trapping and consuming animals such as insects or other arthropods.
There are 16 genera of carnivorous plants found worldwide but New Zealand has only native representatives from two of these - the sundews and bladderworts.
Drosera (sundews) - seven native species (Drosera arcturi, Drosera auriculata, Drosera binata, Drosera peltata, Drosera pygmaea, Drosera spatulata, Drosera stenopetala and two naturalised (Drosera capensis and Drosera neo-caledonica)
Utricularia (bladderworts) - three native species (Utricularia australis, Utricularia delicatula and Utricularia dichotoma) and five naturalised (Utricularia gibba, Utricularia arenaria, Utricularia geminiscapa, Utricularia livida and Utricularia sandersonii)
Native carnivorous plants may be found in a variety of habitats such as seepages, peatlands, bogs and lakes. they may also be found on roadsides and on clay banks. They occur throughout New Zealand including the offshore islands.
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Droseraceae
Genus: Drosera L.
Species: Drosera auriculata
Common name: Cormous sundew
Drosera auriculata is one of New Zealand's two species of cormous sundew. It usually begins growth in late autumn to early winter. Initially a rosette is formed about 2-3cm across forming numerous leaves over the course of a month or two. After this a climbing stem emerges from the centre of the rosette and rapidly grows upwards bearing shield-shaped cauline leaves every 1-2 cm to a height of about 15-30cm. Plants in shady areas may reach up to 80cm tall! Sometimes a plant may miss the rosette stage altogether and just produce a climbing stem. Last to be produced in spring are the up to 10 light pink delicately scented flowers 10-15mm across, which are terminal on the stem. Within a month or so of flowering the plant withers and turns black. The plant is now resting several centimetres below the surface as a dormant corm. The corm can withstand the dry soil through the summer until autumn rains bring it back to life again. It is found in peatlands and poor sandy or clay soils that are wet in winter but dry out in summer. It flowers spring to summer.
These photos were taken of Drosera auriculata on a bank on the walkway on the eastern side of Cumberland St. mid July.
The
Previous page: Wood rose (Dactylanthus taylorii)
Next page: Blueberry (Turutu) Dianella intermedia