Carniflora Australis Journal of the Australasian Carnivorous Plant Society Inc

Carniflora Australis Journal of the Australasian Carnivorous Plant Society Inc. Number 5, March 2005

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Dedicated to Conservation and Education Meeting are held on the second Friday of each month Time: 7.30pm—10.00pm © Australasian Carnivorous Plant Society Inc. 2003 Venue: Woodstock Community Centre Church St, Burwood Two years ago, I have moved to a these plants require very little wa- Ph. 4684 3478 more coastal area near Wollongong tering. Next time you take cuttings where humidity is always quite of your favourite Nepenthes hybrid, high and temperature fluctuations stick a few in the garden and see Contents are relatively small. Winter temps what happens. Front Page: Cephalotus follicularis. Greg Bourke range between 5ºC and 15ºC and Back Page: Darlingtonia californica. Jim Forshey summer temps between 15ºC and 35ºC. This has allowed me to grow Title Author Page many hybrids and some species in the ground. I now have a total of 11 Yuragir National Park Dan Clark 4 hybrids and three species planted South Western Australia - The coastal Greg Bourke 8 straight into the soil. The results plains have been great. What’s most inter- My life as a carnivorous plant wife Michelle Leer 23 esting is what each particular plant has been targeting in relation to A visit to the Darlingtonia State Natural Jim Forshey 25 prey. Nepenthes ventricosa and its Site hybrids like snails, Nepenthes Propagation of Catopsis berteroniana Greg Bourke 29 khasiana and Nepenthes khasiana x alata targets ants and Nepenthes Nepenthes in the Garden Greg Bourke 30 alata has been catching small bush cockroaches.

Once established in the ground Nepenthes hybrids

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Nepenthes in the garden UPCOMING SPEAKERS AND EVENTS Greg Bourke Date Subject Speaker Sydney [email protected] 8th July Slides from Cairns Greg Bourke Over the years my Nepenthes col- 12th August General Discussion lection has grown and valuable space in the glass and shade houses 9th September Pinguicula Helmut Kibellis have forced the hybrids out. I’ve always been reluctant to part with 14th October Tissue Culture Fiona Chadwick plants so I began experimenting 11th November Borneo Greg Bourke with them in the garden. At first I tried a few of the hardy hybrids like 26th November Christmas Swap Meet Richard Sullivan’s House Nepenthes ‘Rokko’ and Nepenthes x ventrata with good success. I pre- 9th December General Discussion

Committee 2005

President: Greg Bourke Vice President: Kirstie Wulf Nepenthes ventricosa x ovata Secretary: Jessica Biddlecombe pared the soil then by mounding a Treasurer: Steve Moyle mixture of Orchid Bark, Sphagnum Moss and Peat Moss with a water- Committee Members: Peter Biddlecombe ing system misting the surface daily. The reason for mounding the Richard Sullivan soil was that I thought the natural soil below would be too rich and Kirstie Wulf kill the plants. I soon realised that this was not true as the plants Helmut Kibellis quickly reached this soil and took Luis Mendoza off. Nepenthes ventricosa x ovata Robert Pollet 30 3

a callus (Figure 2). The pup was Yuragir National Park then tied to a cork branch where it Dan Clark soon developed roots and attached Canberra itself to the branch (Figure 3). Email: [email protected] I have continued the same process I was fortunate enough to spend a southwest Western Australia. three times and now only six few weeks over Christmas 2004 Sandy soils predominate near the months since I bought the plant, I basking in the sun at my partner’s coast, developed on dunes formed have three plants. At the time of folks place on the NSW north coast. during the last ice age. Peaty or- writing, the parent was producing Not to miss a chance at some bota- ganic soils are common between two more pups bringing the total to nising I took every opportunity to dunes (Figure 1). I’d not been able five. I had no idea that this would visit the nearby Yuragir National to find any flora species list for the be so successful and now believe Park. This park protects very large national park, so I went in with an that I may be able to get up to five areas of coastal heath and Banksia open mind and visited as many eco- more pups before the parent plant scrub that reminds me strongly of logical niches as possible. runs out of energy.

Figure 2. Recently removed pup with callused base. Roots not yet forming.

new generation to take over so why not leave the pup on?

I removed the first pup at about 5cm high. To do this I removed the outer leaf exposing the pup and then tore the pup downwards to take some of the parents tissue with it. I then placed the pup vertically Figure 3. A six month old plant in the on the bench out of full sun and foreground firmly attached to the cork Figure 1. Heathlands in Yuragir National Park (Emma for scale). fairly dry until the base had formed branch with younger pup behind.

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After only ten minutes walking curiously asymmetric – there was Propagation of Catopsis berteroniana along a coastal track I made my fist certainly scope for more points, but Greg Bourke discovery – a smattering of crimson maybe on another day. Sydney red Drosera spatulata growing on [email protected] an animal track through the heath. Subsequent trips to the various More was to come further along the swampy areas over the coming days Last year while in Victoria I ob- track as it crossed a shallow gully succeeded in introducing me to the tained a single plant from the Bro- clothed in heath up to knee height. local wildlife, comprising mainly of meliaceae family Catopsis bertero- Where the gully met coastal cliffs hungry mozzies. Drosera binata niana, an epiphytic species from and the water table approached the was quite common in the peatier South America. A few days after I surface a tangled profusion of coral areas on the dune slopes got it home I noticed that the centre ferns grew. In amongst the dense (presumably water seeps out from of the plant had begun to rot. foliage I spied a splash of red which the base of the dunes), and to a Knowing a little about Bromeliads I resolved itself into a Drosera lesser extent on swamp flats, but knew that the plant was surely binata leaf! My excitement grew only where coral ferns were abun- doomed if I did not do something. I as I counted thirty points – a dant. As with the first day, the had never been able to save a plant Drosera binata var. multifida f. plants grow amongst a dense layer in the past once the centre had be- extrema for sure! of heath plants up to 2ft high, with gun to rot but I had an idea. only the leaf visible. One particular Clambering around in the scrub swamp was a gold mine of division I began destroying my plant by re- near to the track revealed a few with several plants spotted sporting moving the leaves that were rotten more leaves with a similar point over forty points. The most divided which meant the centre two or three count. Many displayed a beautiful example I found had 56 points! leaves. These are the ones that symmetry, resembling coral or ant- (Figure 3). I found it almost im- came without too much force. I Figure 1. Pup forming in the leaf axial lers (Figure 2). The growing possible to count the points in situ, then poked a hole through the cen- of the parent plant points of these plants were safely so the leaf dutifully followed me tre of the plant and out its base so hidden from the harsh salt spray as to drain any water from the cen- the species. and hot drying summer sun beneath tre of the plant. I hoped this would the tangle mass of vegetation. The prevent the heart from rotting fur- Most growers of Bromeliads leave petioles were surprisingly delicate, ther. Water could still be held in the pups on the parent plant until they with the weight of laminas being leaf axials preventing dehydration. are one third the size of the parent almost completely supported by then remove it and pot it up. This vegetation. With other commit- After a week, the Catopsis had be- drains energy from the parent and ments pending a quick wander off gun to develop a pup from within restricts its ability to produce more the main path along a wallaby track the leaf axial of the outermost leaf pups. Generally speaking, once a was rewarded with more plants (Figure 1). Although the parent Bromeliad has flowered and begins with a maximum count of 36 Figure 3. Fifty six point D. binata leaf plant was lost, at least I had not lost producing pups it dies leaving the points. The thirty-six pointer was emerging from dense heath.

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Depending on what time of year you go you see various stage of plan development. If you go in spring you should see its flowers with five purple petals (surrounded by yellow sepals), but any time of year this area is worth viewing.

Besides its parking area and boardwalk, Darlingtonia State Natural Site offers a small picnic area. Nearby scenery includes a lush as- sortment of vegetation that includes rhododendron, spruce, cedar, skunk cabbages, salal, mosses, wax myrtle and shore pine to name a few. And most surprising of all is that there is no fee to use this park.

Culture note; right off of highway 101 and going a few hundred yards you will find For years I had trouble growing the entrance to the park clearly Darlingtonia californica in my hot Figure. 4. Fifty six point D. binata leaf coastal heaths of Yuragir (with the marked and a small area for parking climate, until I read about them lik- stuck to a sheet of paper with points possible exception of Drosera cars. As I started off down the trial, ing their roots kept cold. Since then numbered. binata which invariably has shel- which at first was disappointing to I have placed them in the cooler tered growing tips). Where the me, “were are the carnivorous spot in the green house, which has home where it was pasted to a sheet heath meets the sea, seeps form plants” I thought, this does not look helped a lot. Also friend of mine of paper and the points numbered small freshwater swamps (at the like an area they should be in. But I (Danny Kent) suggested that I use (Figure 4). Having only read of 10m scale) only a few metres above quickly came across the boardwalk. an air pump with an air stone at- Drosera binata var. multifida f. the high tide mark (Figure 5). Bare Which lead me over an field of tached to circulate the water around extrema with anywhere near forty peat faces are home to beautiful red about 50’ x 100’ of Darlingtonia the pot of the Darlingtonia califor- points from Stradbroke Island Drosera spatulata (Figure 6) and californica growing in sphagnum nica, I hope to be trying this real (300km to the north) I was pretty Drosera pygmaea. Amongst the moss, what a great view, to be look- soon. amazed by these finds. reeds of the swamp floors a striking ing over 1,000 of Darlingtonia and Perhaps the most amazing thing is marked and coloured form of to know you are not damaging them .. Enjoy.. the hardiness and salt tolerance of Utricularia uglinosa is quite com- by walking through them. the carnivorous plant species in the mon (Figure 8). All the plants are

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exposed to the salt spray and I’m than 56 points or find the illusive

A visit to the “Darlingtonia State Natural sure must be inundated by the Evans Head variant of Drosera pel- Site” ocean during storms. Despite the tata which has been recorded from apparent harshness of their environ- just to the north… Jim Forshey ment they seemed to be in excellent Placerville, California health. [email protected] Photos by Jim, Agnes and Anessa Forshey Yuragir National Park is an amazing place that I’d recommend to The “Darlingtonia State Natural Oregon, off of highway 101, you anyone, and not only for it’s species Site” is an 18-acre botanical park will find the “Darlingtonia State of carnivorous plants. I’ll be head- which provides parking and a Natural Site” the only park in ing back as soon as possible – boardwalk trail into the home of North America that is dedicated to maybe next time I’ll score more Darlingtonia californica. Also the protection of a single plant spe- called a cobra lily, this strangely- cies “Darlingtonia californica” shaped but beautiful plant is the also called the Cobra Lily, what a only member of the pitcher plant menacing name for such an inter- family (Sarraceniaceae) in Oregon. esting Carnivorous Plant. Which lives off of photosynthesis and the Eight miles north of Florence, digestion of insects. After turning

Figure 5. Small swamp in a seep from the dune base. Dark line on the sand is the recent high tide mark.

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to indulge my own hobby of pho- called out at the same time – I was South Western Australia - The coastal tography. It was at times like this slightly disappointed to find that Plains that our two hobbies complimented mine was only tiny compared to the each other. Greg talks about trips to real thing Greg had found – a cou- Greg Bourke Borneo and Sumatra, in fact our ple of hours of photos followed. Sydney next trip is to Darwin and I am sure E-Mail: [email protected] this will include some carnivorous Though I didn’t go to WA to find plant searching but the fact that carnivorous plants I can understand Over a two year period, 2003/2004 gneisses and migmatites. Coastal many of these plants exist and why an enthusiast would. In three I made four trips to Western Aus- dunes also occur in places. To put it thrive in national parks suits me weeks we travelled 6000km along tralia to search for carnivorous simply, the soils in this region are just fine. While Greg spends his the coast and up through the middle plants. During this time I travelled some of the oldest in the world and time crouched over a carnivorous of the wheat belt, we found 50+ more than 20,000 kilometres by car have eroded over thousands of plant taking notes and photos I get species. Greg was impressed be- and found more than 60 species of years to create very specific and to roam about and explore some of cause from the top of my head I carnivorous plants. In this article I isolated habitats. With such a vari- the most beautiful places Australia could rattle off at least 20. I became will attempt describe the various ety of soils it is not surprising that has to offer. quite adept at calling out Drosera habitats and species seen along the so many species of plants occur. pallida (in fact I got quite bored of coast from Kalbarri (590 km north So some of the highlights of our it as it seemed to be everywhere) of Perth) south to Augusta and east- Kalbarri is a fast growing tourist trip – Cape Le Grande National and Drosera macrantha. ward to Ravensthorpe (Figure 1). destination. Well known for it’s Park – one of the few places it did- fishing, surf, magnificent Gorges n’t rain. I explored the beaches and Imagine my surprise when I found The 30 to 50 kilometre wide strip and endemic plant species. This rock formations while Greg hiked out that Drosera erythrorhiza flow- along the south western coast con- area attracts early rains in Autumn out behind Thistle Cove to the ers before it grows leaves. Only a sist of many soil types. From and is home to some unique species Swamp to see what he could find – few of the tuberous plants in Greg’s Kalbarri south to Jurian, Lateritised of Drosera. Two tuberous species a slightly disappointing adventure collection have shown their little plateaus on Jurasic and Permian Drosera radicans and Drosera he told me as he had to struggle heads so far this year but I admit to sediments and Proterzoic granites stolonifera ssp prostrata, and one through the heath land to get being guilty of taking visitors at the dissected at the fringes. On the pygmy Drosera coolamon are through. new house into the shade house to western margin of this section, found only in this area. These show them our babies – oh and ex- Quaternary sands and calcarenite plants can be found growing in The Karri Forest were pretty amaz- plaining how the nepenthes pitchers can be found. From Jurian to sandy soil on the gently sloping ing and we discovered not only CPs work – and describing the new fog- Busselton, pale and yellow deep drainage lines above the Murchison (Drosera modesta and Drosera pal- ging machine for the highland glass sands dominate but sandy and Gorge. Drosera macrantha ssp lida) but also some fantastic orchids house – oh dear – perhaps Greg’s loamy gravel and deep grey sands macrantha, Drosera menziesi ssp (Pterostylis recurva being my fa- enthusiasm is wearing off. Oh well also occur. Along the south coast to thysanosepala and Drosera neesii vourite). I think the most exciting if you can’t beat em – you might as Esperance eroded lateritised ssp borealis can also be found in day for Greg was when we found well join em!!!! plateaus on tertiary sediments occur similar soils. Cephalotus follicularis. We had as well as coastal headlands of been scanning the ground and both

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latest find. but he found he was too busy being car sick to pay attention so most of Our trip was pretty open, there were the 6000km were driven by Greg a few stops along the way that we while I snoozed in the passenger were keen to see but in general we seat. I did find though that after a were just planning to follow the week, even though I was really bad bonnet. One of our first stops was at spotting the plants, I could pick in Harvey (south of Perth) to visit the areas where different plants Phil Mann. Phil took us to a few would grow and once we were out spots that he knew and sat down of the car while Greg was taking over a cuppa and helped us plot out photos I was flitting here and there our three weeks. The WA atlas we finding new plants, and taking were carrying soon became dotted notes. I remember in particular one with sites along the road and sud- granite outcrop we found – it had denly our three weeks were no just been raining and the rocks were longer open to chance. We knew covered in moss and lichens – it where we were going and exactly was pretty spectacular on its own how many tracks we needed to fol- but when we got out of the car it low to find the best sites. The first was even better. Along the fringes problem we noted was that there of the outcrop we found Drosera were way too many sites to visit in macrantha ssp. macrantha and three weeks and the second prob- through the middle there was a lem became evident over the next blanket of Utricularia multifida few days – our trip was dogged by flowers. I think we spent 4 hours rain which made it difficult to do exploring just one area around much more than explore the road- 100m sq. side ditches a couple of metres from the roadside. Another great area we stopped at was Northcliffe which had recently But boy did we see a lot in those been gutted by a bushfire. The earth Figure 1. Southwestern Australia. This lay of the land is generally flat. article generally follows Highway No.1 few metres. For those of you who was black as night and the new There are some low hilly sections from Kalbarri in the North down the know Greg, his eyes aren’t the best growth was just shooting through in coast through Perth to Bunbury then of laterite where Drosera barbig- but he can spot a single flower of a the most vivid green. It had just South/East to Albany and Eastward to era, Drosera miniata and Drosera Utricularia in a boggy ditch while stopped raining so the colours of Ravensthorpe. macrantha ssp macrantha can be driving at 110km, added to that the the area were really deep and we found. In the deep sand small rain was pouring making visibility both went nuts with photos – Greg 200km south of Kalbarri is the shrubs, grasses and herbs protect next to nothing. I suggested a cou- was obviously taking photos of CPs town of Eneabba. The soil here is the carnivorous plants from the ple of times that I drive and he look – Drosera ….I believe while I got sandy, the vegetation is low and the harsh conditions. Drosera zonaria

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is often found hidden well under Further south along the coast to- the protection of these shrubs. Be- wards Cervantes (Home of the fa- My Life as a carnivorous plant wife tween the shrubs and grasses mous Pinnacles Desert) Drosera Michelle Leer pygmy Drosera such as Drosera erythrorhiza ssp magna and Sydney eneabba, Drosera closterostigma Drosera stolonifera ssp porrecta and Drosera menziesii ssp are found in areas where the shrubs I would imagine that most people out for the unusual, red and sticky thysanosepala can be found. The are generally taller (to 3m) giving reading this article don’t actually rosette plants growing on the side flowers of several herbaceous per- them protection from wind but al- know who I am. ‘Michelle Leer’ I of the rocks. Imagine my surprise ennial species like Patersonia lowing good light to filter through hear you ask, ‘what does she when I found out they were car- juncea disguise the flowers of (Figure 2). grow’? Well the truth is not a lot. I nivorous – Drosera spatulata to be Byblis lamellata making it difficult have managed to kill most of my exact. And that my new boyfriend to locate. From late Autumn to Drosera menziesii ssp menziesii, herbs and the African violets on my had a hobby revolving around early summer, violet flowers can be Drosera menziesii ssp penicillaris, window sill tend to curl and turn them. Hobby – well maybe a slight seen everywhere in this region. Drosera microphylla, Drosera yellow. I am however the proud obsession is a better term. Our subhirtella, Drosera heterophylla owner of a big blue glazed pot full study has become a library/photo of nepenthes, a valentine’s gift archive for CPs, our new house was from my other half, who I believe purchased primarily as four glass- many people do know – Greg houses could fit in the yard and our Bourke. I have to say I was quite holidays become a search for the chuffed when my nepenthes pot local CPs which brings me to the was dragged up the two flights of point of this article – our trip to stairs and though they have suffered WA. a little under my care they are growing quite well. I have no idea Last October we jumped on a Vir- what sort they are but if any body gin flight to Perth – gotta love those asks, and believe me they do I just $99 fares – for a three week trip rattle off a couple of names I have around the south west of WA. I heard Greg use. Nepenthes rajah knew at the outset that carnivorous and Nepenthes rafflesiana being the plant stops would be a must espe- most common. cially as most of the places we in- tended to visit were in National I have to say, before Greg came Parks but I had no idea that by the along I never gave carnivorous end of the trip I would have per- plants a second thought, not a con- fected new skills included reading scious one anyway. All through my the GPS, spotting Utricularia in Figure 2. Drosera erythrorhiza subsp magna growing under the protection of lepto- school years we had excursions in ditches from moving vehicles, spermum sp. The sandy soil is covered with a thin covering of peaty soil made from the leptospermums decomposing leaves. Plants growing in these protected areas have the Royal National Park around climbing granite outcrops, and pos- a longer growing season than those in more exposed locations. Heathcote. I always used to watch ing as a hand model to display the

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tion throughout the park. area discussed in this article let hybrid was recreated by the author alone that of South Western Austra- in 2001 and is expected to flower in In the orange clay soils on the lia. It’s an amazing place that the spring of 2005 or 2006. Drosera banks of a small creek in the would take more than a lifetime to subhirtella and Drosera Fitzgerald National Park a colony explore. No doubt more of its se- erythrorhiza ssp magna are found of Utricularia tenella was found crets will be uncovered in the com- at the same site in slightly sandier with only white flowers. This spe- ing years. soils. cies really looked out of place in the dry soil. In the same soil type Acknowledgements. In the sandy soils to the west of the on higher ground, Drosera lowriei, I’d like to thank Phill Mann, Robert Darling Range and to the south of Drosera menziesii ssp. menziesii Gibson and Daren O’Brien for shar- Perth, are some amazing colonies and Drosera subhirtella could be ing their vast knowledge on the of carnivorous plants many of found amongst the dense stunted Carnivorous plants of Western Aus- which are under threat from devel- heath. The latter two species scram- tralia and Michelle Leer for her in- opment. Near the city of Armadale bling above the low vegetation to credible patience with me. lies a large ephemeral swamp that show off their conspicuous flowers. has been cut by a freeway and is being drained. The sandy soil lies I have not been able to cover all the on top of a large claypan here and species or habitats seen within the can be under water for many weeks Figure 3. A clump of Drosera hetero- References: phylla plants growing in sandy/clay soil near Eneabba. In heavier soils this species produces daughter tubers close to Hoffman, N. & Brown, A. (1984) Orchids of South Western Australia, University of the parent. The stems of these daughter Western Australia Press tubers travel up the conduit of dead Lowrie, A. (1987) Carnivorous Plants of Australia - vol. 1, University of Western roots left by the parent plant the previ- Australia Press ous season. The result is what looks to Lowrie, A. (1989) Carnivorous Plants of Australia - vol. 2, University of Western be a small shrub. Australia Press Lowrie, A. (1998) Carnivorous Plants of Australia - vol. 3, University of Western (Figure 3) and Drosera marchantii Australia Press ssp prophylla can be found from Scott, J. & Negus P. (2002) Wildflowers of Australia’s South West - Augusta - Cervantes and to the east and south Margaret River Region, Cape to Cape Publishing in localised colonies. A hybrid of Taylor, P. (1989) The Genus Utricularia—a taxonomic monograph, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew the latter two species was located in Wajon, E. (2000) Colour Guide to Spring Flowers of South Western Australia - a drainage line in this region by Part 2. Perth and the Southwest, Wajon Publishing Company Daren O’Brien several years ago. The hybrid is uncommon and found amongst the two parent species Figure 4. Utricularia ineaqualis in where the soil is sandy clay. This September at the Armadale claypan 22 11

in late Autumn to winter where species of Orchids. One of the most amazing sites for early in the season flowering well Utricularia menziesii, Utricularia Pygmies (Figure 17) was near before the rosette forms. The scapes multifida, Utricularia inaequalis Following the highway south, the Broke Inlet where three species emerge vertically then bend over to (Figure 4) and Utricularia violacea stretch between Armidale and Bun- grew on the beach right above the run parallel to the soil holding the thrive. Without the flooding the bury yields some more special high tide mark. Drosera pulchella, open flowers straight up. Phill and I latter three annual species would plants. The tiny erect Drosera Drosera enodes, and Drosera occi- revisited the site in April 2003 and surely be lost. Drosera heterophylla bulbigena can be found in a few dentalis ssp. australis grew to- our timing could not have been bet- grows here in the tens of thousands, small patches growing amongst the gether in open areas in a band be- ter. We found plants growing under Drosera gigantea grows in dense trunkless Xanthorrhoea brunonis tween the sea and the Allocasuarina the shelter of Eucalypt trees in fine localised colonies (Figure 5) and ssp semibarbata. Unfortunately forest. grey sand as well as sunny exposed Drosera menziesii ssp menziesii much of Drosera bulbigena habitat locations on the side of a hill in grows scattered amongst the shrubs has been lost to farmland and hous- Drosera fimbriata was once sandy gravel. Although the area scrambling over them to get there ing. thought to be quite rare being found these plants occur is fairly small, it beautiful purple flowers above the only in a few small pockets of bush is likely that it has a wider distribu- surrounding vegetation. Many of Drosera erythrorhiza ssp collina beside the highway between the plants in this swamp are tuber- and Drosera erythrorhiza ssp Albany and Jerramungup, but re- ous or annuals including several squamosa are two species restricted cent discoveries have been made in the Denmark area. Given the di- minutive size of this species it is not surprising that it has been over- looked at these sites for so long. The soil is generally white sand and the surrounding vegetation sparse.

The Ravensthorpe area is home to an astonishing amount of endemic species. More than 12 species of terrestrial Orchids are found only within the boundaries of the Fitzgerald National Park as well as endemic Banksia and Eucalypt species and many others. There are many species of carnivorous plants in the park also but the highlight is the endemic and unmistakable Drosera prostratoscaposa. Discov- ered by Phill Mann in the 80’s this Figure 17. Drosera occidentalis ssp Figure 5. The Armadale claypan showing typical vegetation with Daren O’Brien australis top and Drosera pulchella at photographing a colony of Drosera gigantea beautiful rosetted species emerges Broke Inlet. 12 21

had been burnt the previous summer (P. Mann pers. comm.) where the Pitcher Plants grew in deep spongy peat derived mostly from sedges and what appeared to be a member of the Meeboldina (Rushes) family. Here the plants were a beautiful red colour (Figure 15) and grew along side Drosera hamiltonii and Drosera binata.

Utricularia simplex, Utricularia tenella and Utricularia violacea were seen in the sandy depressions around Walpole with Drosera microphylla and Drosera sul- phurea. This soil is fairly high in peat under the surface and tends to Figure 6. Deep sandy soil of the plains drain via surface water courses Figure 16. Red aerial root make their way down the tem of this pygmy west of the Darling Range. Banksia rather than the water soaking in. Drosera Grandis and Eucalyptus sp. Provide Because the soil is waterlogged for shelter to the sparse vegetation beneath. much of the year, there is little tions yes many species like Drosera A small colony of Drosera erythrorhiza competition from trees and grasses, scorpioides manage to hold their ssp. collina can be seen in the centre of sedges and Xanthorrhoea although delicate rosettes high on thin stems shot. present are fairly sparse. The (Figure 16). In the wettest times Drosera species were only seen in the plant will send aerial roots to the Darling range and the adja- early stages of flowering and proba- down towards the soil in an attempt cent plains. Although the two were bly continue into early December. to gain extra stability. These roots not seen growing together, interme- travel through the dead foliage then diates were found as well as some Many species of Pygmy Drosera into the open air before heading very odd looking Drosera were seen along the southern coast. deep into the soil. These hair like erythrorhiza ssp collina. The habi- In winter many of these are difficult roots can be 300mm long and carry tat that these two species occur is to identify to the untrained eye valuable moisture into the rosette very similar (Figure 6) as well as (ie. Mine) but I was lucky to catch a during the dry of summer. Al- the habit. Colonies of half a dozen few flowers here and there which though soil type is not specific, or so plants are not uncommon but enabled me to identify some of the deep pots are necessary to success- plants usually occur singularly difficult ones. The pygmy Drosera fully cultivate these species in the (Figure 7). I believe further study Figure 7. Drosera erythrorhiza ssp. grow in some of the harshest condi- long term. is required into the whole Drosera squamosa growing in deep sandy soil

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erythrorhiza complex which is not found here (Figure 8) as well as sedges, Leptospermum and Me- as cut and dried as current publica- Drosera paleacea ssp paleacea. laleuca species. One site I visited tions suggest. the vegetation was so dense we had In the swampy areas around to push our way through the trees. In the Bunbury area there are Bunbury Drosera tubaestylis, Here the Cephalotus plants were numerous swamps divided by Drosera nitidula ssp nitidula, large and green (Figure 13) with dunes of deep silica sand. This sand Drosera glanduligera, Utricularia many non carnivorous leaves. Al- is like nothing I have ever seen be- multifida, Utricularia violacea, and most all the pitchers inspected were fore. The grains are all the same Utricularia ineaqualis can be found half filled with the decaying bodies size (approximately 1mm in diame- flooded by up to 300mm of water of ants which Cephalotus feeds on ter) and spherical. The soil is there- for several weeks. The first time I almost exclusively. fore very well drained. Banksia sp. visited the area was in April where and Acacia sp. are common in these the colonies (over 50 plants) of In the Walpole region Cephalotus soils as well as Stylidiums, Orchids Drosera tubaestylis (Figure 9) was seen at several sites that were and Drosera. The large non clump- were up and flowering. In Septem- not protected. The first (Front ing form of Drosera zonaria was ber of the same year I returned to the site to find these under water. The plants looked healthy enough living as aquatics and a visit to the site again in October of the following season revealed that they were Figure 13. This large pitcher of able to resume normal active Cephalotus follicularis found at a shel- tered site near Walpole. The plant had growth once the waters had re- more than 30 pitchers on it ceded. At this stage the Utricularia species were in full bloom with cover and Figure 14) was a sunny many thousands of Utricularia site where the vegetation was multifida being pollinated by stunted due to environmental condi- European Honey Bees (Figure 10). tions. This site according to the lo- cals had not been exposed to fire South from Margaret River and for many years if ever. The plants eastward to Albany sees a general here receive full sun all day and change in habit. This area receives nutrient rich water flows across the the greatest rainfall in the South soil surface for much of the year. West. Leptospermum sp. are com- The rich colouration is probably mon in low laying areas where due to the combination of sun light acidic peaty soils dominate. Figure 12. Drosera erythrorhiza ssp. and nutrients. Drosera stolonifera ssp compacta erythrorhiza with auxiliary stolons near Figure 8. Drosera zonaria near Bunbury is common growing in a wide range Augusta I also was able to visit a site that 14 19

Figure 11. Drosera stolonifera ssp. compacta growing in the shallow peaty plants seen were in large colonies soils of a granite outcrop. of up to 100 plants. These colonies are asexually produced from of soils including the margins of horizontal stolons produced from a peat swamps, Eucalypt and Allo- parent plant. In culture these are casuarina forest and on granite generally produced deep in the pot outcrops. Plants of this species often coming out of drainage holes tend to grow singular in the forest in the bottom but in the densely but on granite can form large colo- packed fine sands along the coast nies (Figure 11) up to 40cm in they often grow along the soil diameter. I assume this is simply surface (Figure 12) producing because there is no way of spread- small trapping leaves on them as ing from the cracks they are grow- they grow. ing in. The seepage zones on the margins Drosera erythrorhiza ssp of swamps on the Southern coast erythrorhiza is another variable are also home to one of Western species in the complex. Plants Australia’s most famous plants. matching the type were only seen Known as the Western Australian at one site, east of Albany. The or Albany Pitcher Plant, Cephalo- species was commonly seen from tus follicularis can be difficult to Figure 9 (Top). Drosera tubaestylis near Bunbury in early May. This is before the Augusta to Esperance in a wide locate even with precise location winter rains. range of habitats but all consisting information. Without fire its habi- Figure 10 (Bottom). Utricularia multifida at the same site as Figure 9 in October mostly of fine sand. Many of the tat becomes overgrown with after the winter flooding has subsided

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This Page from Yuragir National Park Figure 2 (Top). Thirty point Drosera binata leaf emerging from dense heath. Figure 6 (Above). Drosera spatulata (bare peaty bank above the swamp) Figure 8 (Right). Utricularia uliginosa growing a metre or two above high tide mark in a reedy seep at the dune base.

Opposite page from South Western Australia - The coastal Plains Figure 14 (Top). Cephalotus follicularis near Walpole16 17 Figure 15 (Bottom). Cephalotus follicularis with Drosera hamiltonii near Walpole.