ISSN 1033-6966 VICTORIAN CARNIVOROUS SOC IETY Inc.

December 2005 No. 78

Utricularia inaequalis multifida Utricularia petertaylorii

Pinguicula leptoceras moorei Nepenthes dubia

Nepenthes aristolochioides Drosera erythrorhiza ssp. squamosa Cephalotus follicularis VICTORIAN CARNIVOROUS VICTORIAN SOC IETY Inc. PLANT SOC IETY Inc. Issue No. 78 December 2005 Annual Subscriptions Office Bearers: July 2005 – June 2006 Australian membership $20.00 Overseas membership $20.00 Payment from overseas must be in Australian dollars. President Stephen Fretwell All cheques or money orders should be made payable to the Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society Inc (VCPS). Vice President Sean Spence Payment by credit card is NOT available at the time of this journal issue. General Secretary Paul Edwards Correspondence Minutes Secretary Sean Spence Please forward all correspondence regarding subscription, change of address, Other Publications Gordon Ohlenrott articles for the journal and back issues to: The Secretary VCPS Journal Editor Stephen Fretwell P.O. Box 201 SOUTH YARRA 3141. Assistant Journal Editor George Caspar Internet Co-ordinator Paul Edwards Journal articles, in MS-Word, ready for publication, may be Emailed to the Editor or Secretary. Treasurer Ken Neal

Librarian Andrew Gibbons

Meetings Seedbank Administrator George Caspar Most VCPS meetings are held in the hall at the rear of the Pilgrim Uniting Church on the corner of Bayview Road and Montague Street, Yarraville – Melway map reference Hardware Co-ordinator Andre Cleghorn 41K7. These meetings are on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 PM. However, some meetings may be at the home of members during a weekend. Show Co-ordinator Peter Anderson Details of meeting dates and topics are listed in each journal. Field Trips Organiser George Caspar If unsure of the location or date of any meeting, please ring a committee person for details. Public Officer Alexander Whitehouse The VCPS Annual General Meeting, usually held at Yarraville in June, provides substantial benefits for each and every member able to attend. Sales Administrator Ron Abernethy

2 – VCPS VCPS – 3 Contents

FRONT COVER: MEETING TOPICS & DATES for 2006 Cephalotus follicularis . Photographed in the wild at VICTORIAN CARNIVOROUS P LANT SOC IETY Walpole by Richard Nunn. BACK COVER: This year we have scheduled the following discussion topics, and events: Clockwise from top left: January (14th) New Year BBQ, Darlingtonia, Dionaea. I Utricularia inaequalis , grown and photographed by Sean February (22nd) Sarracenia species and hybrids, beginners night. Spence. (22nd) Nepenthes and Heliamphora . I Utricularia multifida , grown and March One of the largest flowers in its’ , Drosera pauciflora ’s photographed by Sean Spence. flowers can reach 6-7cm in diameter. Photo: Stephen Fretwell April (26th) Drosera , video and information night. I Utricularia petertaylorii , grown and photographed by Sean May (24th) Growing conditions, pygmy Drosera gemmae Spence. collection, 'best' and 'worst' . I Nepenthes dubia , grown by Fieldtrip to Hoppers Crossing & Anglesea 6 Richard Nunn, photographed June (28th) AGM, plant give-away, any CPs. by Stephen Fretwell July (26th) Seed growing, tissue culture and potting Gardening Australia Festival 10 I Drosera erythrorhiza ssp. demonstration, any CPs. squamosa photographed in the wild near Perth along the August (23rd) Tuberous/Winter growing Drosera , show Growing annual south western WA Brookton Hwy by Richard Nunn. preparation, displays, and companion planting. Utricularia species from seed 12 I Nepenthes aristolochioides , September (27th) Cephalotus , Brocchinia, Catopsis and swap night. grown by Richard Nunn. October (29th) Field trip to Triffid Park (Sunday afternoon, A summary of the methods used to I Pinguicula leptoceras grown and photographed by Stephen commencing with barbecue lunch) Pinguicula propagate non-tuberous Drosera 16 Fretwell. and pygmy Drosera. I Drosera moorei (centre) grown November (22nd) Byblis, Drosophyllum, Genlisea, Roridula, Utricularia. and photographed by Stephen Fretwell. December (TBA) Annual show at Collectors Corner. The articles that are found within are copyright but can be copied Journal Design: freely if the author and source are acknowledged. The views are of the Stephen Fretwell Please note: All meetings, other than those where a specific venue is given, will authors and are open to review and debate. Please send all material to Printed by: be on the FOURTH WEDNESDAY of the month in the hall of the Pilgrim Uniting the editor for consideration to be included in our quarterly journal. Snap Printing (Box Hill) Church in Yarraville – corner Bayview Road and Montague Street, Melway Map Reference 41K7. 4 – VCPS VCPS – 5 Crossing which was known to contain large populations of the aquatic Utricularia australis . I had discovered the plants growing in December of the previous year whilst searching for the flowers of Utricularia beau - gleholei with Greg Bourke. We were hoping that the U. australis would be flowering as the water level had gradually receded. Upon arriving at the open swamp it didn’t take long to locate the U. australis . The U. australis left stranded on a high mud flat. swamp had dried considerably since I was last there and many of the Utricularia were growing on dried ground. Upon lifting some of the dried specimens we discovered that they had formed small turions on the under - sides. The turions were produced on growth points of various lengths, some up to 5cms long. The turions had been pushed into the soil by the plant, an adaptation to survive the remainder of the hot dry sum - mer. Previously we had assumed that this Turions forming from the stem of U. australis. Utricularia australis in flower at the wetlands at Hoppers Crossing. species only produced the turions in response to the cooler weather of winter. It Fieldtrip to Hoppers Crossing and Anglesea in was interesting to discover a new adapta - tion of these storage organs. search of Utricularia australis and Drosera binata As we headed further into the wetland the water became deeper and the U. australis SEAN SPENCE. with areas of swampland – both perfect became more prevalent. The depth of the habitats for CPs. n January of 2005 George Caspar, water in most areas was about 20-30cms I had last seen D. binata at Anglesea and teeming with aquatic life. Many flowers Steve Fretwell and I decided to revisit back in the late 1980s following a bush - were apparent however most had been the Anglesea area in an attempt to George with a leech found in the wetlands. I fire that had cleared out the large swamp damaged by rains received in previous days. locate populations of Drosera binata . The that dominates the Anglesea river valley. The rains, combined with intensely hot days Freeway and through Geelong we arrived at seaside town of Anglesea is famous for Since that time the area had become following, had left the flowers with tears and our turn off, a few kilometres before the its sandy heathland that abounds in increasingly overgrown by Gleichenia blemishes. Eventually we managed to find a Anglesea township. We headed down Forest native wildflowers including many native fern which had made penetration of the few specimens with perfect flowers of which Rd until we found a small dirt track called carnivorous plant and orchid species. undergrowth surrounding the swamp many photos were taken. Having achieved Shiney-Eye track. This track heads down to After years of lobbying, the surround - virtually impossible. our aim in finding flowers of U. australis we the swamp and is recommended only for 4 x ing area is gazetted to become a We headed off to the area early in the headed off to the seaside town of Anglesea 4 vehicles – as George in one of his previous National Park in the near future. The morning after George and Steve arrived in an attempt to find D. binata and other journal articles can attest. Unlike our previ - area is characterised by low heathland at my house. On the way we had decided summer growing CPs. ous trip to the spot, which was incredibly vegetation with sandy soils combined to check out a swamp near Hoppers After a 45 minute drive down the Princes muddy, this time the area was very dry. We

6 – VCPS VCPS – 7 they were well past their best. After much searching we failed to locate any more plants on this side of the track. We then crossed over to the western side. Instantly this seemed a more likely area for finding CPs. The ground was much moister and the creek seemed to be wider and more open. Before long we found large patches of D. binata carpeting the ground. The plants were not large, only around 10-15 cms in The habitat at Anglesea where height. These had also passed their best. D. binata, U. dichotoma and U. lateriflora grow. The further we searched the more we found and as we headed down towards the Drosera binata T-form. Utricularia dichotoma . Utricularia lateriflora. stream we began to notice the small delicate, pale purple flowers of Utricularia lateriflora also had the luxury of a larger 4 x 4 should Road. We turned left and headed back into covering the ground. These plants were only the environment become too rugged. the bushland. It wasn’t long before we small – averaging about 7 cms in height but Shiney-Eye track is one of a series of passed another seasonal track called they were in full flower and quite attractive tracks which criss-cross the sandy conserva - Allardyce track. This was a track I had never in their own right. tion area. Most of these tracks are accessi - travelled down before and had no idea what I then decided to head further towards the ble year round however there are a few to expect. After a short drive through very centre of the stream where the ground was which head down to the swamp that are sandy soils we hit the top of a hill overlook - very wet and peaty. As I peered through the Utricularia dichotoma . seasonally closed. The gates of these tracks ing a low valley. We were very surprised rushes and tea trees I noticed larger purple were unable to find any suitable habitat. are only open for the dry period between and pleased to see that the area had been flowers filling the open areas. This was the One thing of interest that we did manage to summer and autumn. We took a detour off burnt out sometime in the recent past. first time I had seen Utricularia dichotoma locate was a bone dry stream that had Shiney-eye track down one of the seasonal Through the middle of the valley ran a small growing in the Anglesea area. Most surprising incredibly large colonies of sphagnum sp. tracks and headed for the swamp. stream. The closer we got to the area the was the time of flowering. Most other popu - growing all along the banks. This stream is The swamp itself is approximately 5 kilo - more it appeared to be the perfect habitat lations of U. dichotoma in lowland areas of full of running water during the cooler, wet - metres in length by around 500 metres in for D. binata and other CPs. had finished flowering long ago ter months and would be quite an impres - width. The track winds around the circum - I parked the Jeep at the top of the hill and whereas these had only just begun. sive sight during the growing season. We ference. We drove around the swamp in the we headed down the valley. We first tried The flowers of this form were quite large decided that the spot would be worth a hope that we might find an open area that the eastern side of the track and pushed and around 2cms in diameter. The scapes too look during our next visit. we could walk into. Unfortunately the through the burnt out tea trees of the were tall, mostly around 30cms. The most The Anglesea area is also known to swamp was in dire need of an intense bush - heathland. We each had to carry a burnt interesting feature of this form though was contain the tuberous Drosera species – fire and accessibility was virtually impossible. stick to wave around in front of us as spi - the colour of the leaves. They were very dif - D. peltata, auriculata, whittakerii ssp. aberrans, We stopped at a couple of areas which ders and their webs were rife throughout ficult to spot on the peaty soil and were deep macrantha ssp. planchonii as well as other were low and swampy but had no luck in the area. After a short time searching we maroon in colour rather than the deep green Drosera species D. pygmaea and glanduligera . locating any CPs. After circumnavigating the finally found what we had been looking for. that is common in other Victorian forms. Utricularia tenella is also common in spring. swamp we realised that it was fruitless con - A small patch of Drosera binata was found in After taking many photos we decided to Although we didn’t manage to find any of tinuing our search in this area. a blackened, dry area. The plants were not head off and see if we could find any more these species due to the timing of our visit, At this point we headed off the track and looking terribly healthy, the extreme heat populations of CP. Unfortunately after much it was still well worth spending a day in the found ourselves on the sealed Gumflats and lack of water had affected them and searching and traversing of dirt tracks we area even though it was not at its peak.

8 – VCPS VCPS – 9 Ryu’- “The Red Dragon” showed some of collection. Many people were slightly disap - the range possible for the Venus Flytraps. pointed that we were not permitted to sell The Drosera – D. capensis (in various any plants during this time – this was in the colours), some pygmies, and some wonder - rules for having been provided with a stand ful tall tuberous Drosera provided a good free of charge. representation. The visitors were interested David printed a large number of small to learn that a considerable number of paper flyers to provide basic information plants in this genus are native to Australia. about the VCPS: these were given to every - Our stand was situated on the Promenade one we could reach on the way past. For level – the top public area within the grand - those that stopped we mentioned the stand. This portion of the whole festival was events elsewhere that would be of interest, shown on the map provided for all the visit - such as the open day at Triffid Park and our ing public, so we seemed to have a good show at Collectors Corner on the 4th and throughput of people most of the time. 5th of December – where there would be The uniqueness of our plant types was a lots of plants for sale in each case. I did see means of attracting attention from most of some of the people from the festival attend - the passers-by. The people were fascinated ing at the open day. We hope that many and inspired by the beauty of the plants and remembered to come to our show. The VCPS stand at the Gardening Australia show. what they could do to obtain their nutrition - With the hope that we will benefit from al requirements. Frequently there was a bit general awareness of CPs, and new mem - of congestion for people trying to 'get a look' berships, we will apply for participation in Gardening Australia Festival and ask questions about our assembled this event in 2006. GORDON OHLENROTT It was a fortunate time to display Sarracenia . In this group were three PitcherPlantFever.com his article is to give members - plants with some open flowers on each some insight into our participa - – one with deep red petals, one with Importing rare pitcher plants for Australians. T tion in the Festival at Caulfield pink petals, and another with yellow Racecourse on the 29th September to petals – "Wow!", "Beautiful!", we fre - Distributor for Borneo Exotics and Malesiana Tropicals. the 2nd October this year, 2005. quently heard. Most visitors to our stand Enquiries to [email protected] We set up our display of CPs on were openly fascinated with the varia - Wednesday the 28th, so as to be ready tion of colouring to be seen here. for the first arrivals of the crowd on David’s fern log of Pinguicula and vari - Thursday. ous other specimens in flower were also SOUTHERN CARNIVORES We included most of the readily avail - beautiful – "And you get them from http://www.scarnivores.com able genera to try and give a complete Mexico? – fascinating!". [email protected] picture of our plants in the limited space The VFTs were represented by a provided for the uninitiated visitors. packed tray of small plants and a couple P.O.Box 193 Harvey, W.A. 6220 There were some Nepenthes : an N. x of 6" pots having much larger plants – Contact Phil for a wide range of exotic and rare Allardii, one of the beauties originally most people didn't realise the VFTs Nepenthes species and hybrids . from Triffid Park, and a couple of smaller could be so big. The green plant with red plants having lots of bright red pitchers. inside the traps, and the maroon 'Akai Drosera, Pinguicula and Cephalotus also available.

10 – VCPS VCPS – 11 The distinctive flowers of U. benthamii, U. petertaylorii and U. multifida . Photos: Sean Spence

moisture continuing into spring and early The seed is sown on a mix of peat and summer. Common environments include sand in equal parts. The pot is then placed perennial and ephemeral swamps as well as into a plastic container with the water seeps on granite outcrops. These areas usu - raised so that it is level with the surface of ally dry out completely during the heat of the mix. The high water table is helpful in Utriculaia inaequalis in flower. Photo: Sean Spence summer and the Utricularia survive these dry breaking down the seed coat inhibitor that periods by producing ample quantities of these species produce to prevent them Growing annual south western seed. The seed lies dormant on the baking from germinating after light showers or ground until the rains and cool weather thunderstorms during inappropriate times arrives during autumn and winter. The wet - of the year, ie- the middle of summer. WA Utricularia species from seed ness and cooler weather triggers the seed Once the pot has been placed into the SEAN SPENCE hit or miss as I had no real understand - into germination to once again colonise the container and the appropriate amount of ing of the requirements of these species. waterlogged environment. water has been added, the lid should be ver many years I have had After paying closer attention to their If you can emulate these conditions you replaced and secured. The lid is important numerous attempts at growing natural conditions I decided to give them should have no problems with the culture of as it prevents evaporation. Evaporation in Osome of the Australian annual another try, this time with great results. this group. The species from WA that I have itself is no problem, but the addition of Utricularia species from seed with little These plants are actually very simple had success with include Utricularia inaequalis , water to replace that which has been evap - or no luck. A couple of years back I to germinate, grow and flower if they benthamii, violacea, westonii, multifida, tenella orated can unsettle the surface of the mix decided to have a more genuine attempt are treated in the correct manner. The and petertaylorii . Other similar species from and disturb the seeds or seedlings. I have at adding a few of these fantastic little key to good germination is fresh seed. the south east of Australia (eg- U. beaugleholei found that it is best to place the sealed con - plants to my collection. These annual Although the seed of many of the annual and dichotoma varieties) also respond to the tainer in a dimly lit, cool spot where it is species produce only a small rosette of species generally remains viable for same cultural methods. unlikely to be disturbed. My area of choice leaves that do not spread across the sub - longer than perennial species (which can I have found that the best time to sow is underneath my greenhouse benches strate surface as those of the perennial be extremely short lived), the older the the seed is towards the end of summer. where it is placed and forgotten about. species do. Due to this lack of spreading seed is, the lower the rate of germina - Luckily, I have not found it necessary to pro - If the seeds are sown at the end of sum - capabilities the plants die when condi - tion you can expect. vide the seeds with a period of extreme mer in Melbourne, within a month or so the tions do not suit, ie- when the substrate It is worth noting that these annual heat that they would naturally experience temperatures should begin to decrease. dries out in summer. species inhabit areas that are very wet after dehiscing from the parent plant, as Around this time you should begin to notice My previous attempts had been very during the cooler months with this they germinate well without it. the first signs of germination. The seedlings

12 – VCPS VCPS – 13 are extremely small and a magnifying glass or something similar is often required to spot the first signs of germination. When TRIFFID PARK germination has been noticed I provide a 257 PERRY ROAD, KEYSBOROUGH, VIC, 3173, AUSTRALIA touch more light, not a lot though as in PHONE: 61 (0)3 9769 1663, 11am to 5pm Monday to Thursday ONLY nature these plants often germinate ***NEW*** FAX: 61 (03) 9701 5816, 24 hours, 7 days per week amongst tall grasses and herbs which pro - EMAIL: [email protected] [email protected] vide shade and protection. WEB: www.triffidpark.com.au During the winter months in their natural Owned and operated by Colin and Tina Clayton. Managed by Donna ClaytonSmith. environment these plants will often grow as submerged, affixed plants. It is not uncom - FOR ALL YOUR CARNIVOROUS PLANT REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING: mon for them to grow under several inches PLANTS, POTS, LABELS, BOOKS, SEEDS, of water, sometimes up to a foot in depth. SPHAGNUM MOSS AND PEAT MOSS This submersion creates a stable environ - The growing rosette of U. benthamii – note WRITE, PHONE, FAX OR EMAIL TRIFFID PARK FOR A FREE COLOUR ment providing the plants with plenty of the traps on the end of the leaves . MAIL ORDER CATALOGUE OR VIEW OUR COMPREHENSIVE WEB SITE. microfauna for them to capture and digest. Photo: Sean Spence. You are most welcome to visit Triffid Park, but please organise this with us first, Several species will produce traps above the species will produce several flower scapes in as sales and inspection are by appointment ONLY. surface of the substrate, often suspended on succession from their rosettes. If you wish to the end of their leaves. continue growing the plants the next season To simulate these conditions I raise the NEWS it is now very important that you make an Thank you to all the members who attended our Open Day on Saturday 23rd October and level inside the container so that it is between attempt to pollinate the flowers. The method helped to make it a success. We had a great day, and we hope everyone who 2-10cms (depending upon the species) above I use is to use a toothpick or dead Drosera took home a free deflasked Nepenthes at our demonstration is having luck with it. the substrate after the seed has germinated. flower scape which is wetted on the end. The Thanks to Steve for doing the potting. Congratulations to Richard Lee of Mount Waverly By this time the substrate will have settled toothpick or scape is pushed between the who won our $25 gift voucher in our free raffle on the day. enough for the seedlings to cope with the gap of the upper and lower corollas and We have booked in next years Open Day for Sunday 29th October – Colin’s 65th Birthday higher watertable and should not float off. I manoeuvred around concentrating on the – so put it in your diary now and make sure you don’t miss it. try to move the container as little as possible upper surface. The toothpick is then moved We still have some copies of the book “Plants of Prey” by Densey Clyne, printed in 1992. to diminish the chances of disturbing the sur - from flower to flower to ensure cross-polli - It is 32 pages with 31 colour photos, written in English text, with a soft cover. All copies face. From here the plants are left to grow nation and good seed set. This process are personally autographed and sell for $25 + gst including postage. and develop until the end of spring when the should be repeated over several days to Or a SPECIAL for VCPS members of 5 books for $75 + gst including postage if you want temperatures begin to increase again. increase the probability of pollination. to put together an order with friends. When the temperatures do increase I By the middle of summer the plants will We now have Gift Vouchers available. Tell your friends and family, so if they don’t know what move the containers to an even brighter have finished flowering and the seed can be to get you for your birthday, they can purchase you a gift voucher to Triffid Park. They can be position, but still partially shaded. The lid of collected. At this point the plants will perish. used to purchase carnivorous plants, books or anything else that we sell at Triffid Park. the container is then removed and the water I choose to dry out the pot and store it Colin has written an article about his trip to Seychelles and Mauritius, and you can ready about is allowed to gradually evaporate and recede, away until the onset of cool weather and it on our web site at: http://www.triffidpark.com.au/htm_pages/seychelles.htm as it would do in nature. As the level drops then rewet. I have found that further germi - Congratulations to Gordon Ohlenrott who won our “Clayton’s Award” at the V.C.P.S show on back down to the surface the plants should nation can occur from either seed that the 3rd December, for his Pygmy Drosera display spelling out “VCPS”. We awarded him a have already begun to produce flower didn’t germinate the previous year or from $25 gift voucher to be used at Triffid Park. Congratulations to all the members on a great show. scapes. From this stage onwards I keep the seed that dropped from the seedpods. Please note: we have a new dedicated fax number now: 03 9701 5816 This means that we can now water level at the surface of the substrate. Within a couple of months the collected accept faxes 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and we don’t even have to be in the office to do so! Ideally, by the end of spring the plants seed can again be sown and the whole Our phone number remains the same, but is no longer able to accept faxes. should be in full flower. Most of these process can begin again.

14 – VCPS VCPS – 15 or summer dormancy). The species grow in various climates, some in tropical, sub-tropi - cal or temperate zones [1]. Furthermore, the genus Drosera is distributed across all conti - nents of the world, excluding Antarctica. Drosera trap insects by using sticky glands on their leaves. Many species readily curl their leaves around the trapped insect (eg- D. capensis ), whereas the leaves of other species do not seem inclined to curl (eg- D. binata & D. filiformis ). Though in the latter, kinks are sometimes observed across the leaf in areas where larger insects are caught. This leaf curling assists in the digestive process, as D. capillaris “Brazil”. Photo: Sean Spence it allows a greater number of digestive glands to contact and engulf the prey. There are a number of different groups of sundews, and each species differs from another in many and various ways (eg- Drosera burmannii “Hong Kong”. Photo: Sean Spence growth habit, flower size & flower colour, seed shape & cultural requirements). Drosera binata , commonly referred to as the A summary of the methods used to forked sundew, has a number of stem-like leaves that radiate out from a basal growth propagate non-tuberous Drosera point. At the top of each of these “stems”, or petioles, the leaves adopt a fork shaped STEVE AMOROSO commonly grown species of sundews appearance. These forks are covered in (Drosera ) and on the methods that can sticky digestive glands. There are a number ABSTRACT be used to propagate these plants. of forms of D. binata , and each form can be orticulturalists have been propa - distinguished from another by features such gating plants for many years in INTRODUCTION as the size and colour of the plant, the an attempt to regenerate or There are a number of different genera of length of the leaves or the size or number of Drosera binata var dichotoma “Giant” . H Photo: Stephen Fretwell multiply a species of plant, improve its carnivorous plants that exist, each of fork divisions of the leaf. survival rate, and to make it commer - these having a specific method of catching The D. binata var. dichotoma “Giant form” not seem to be self-fertile in my growing con - cially available to the public. Over the prey. The sundews ( Drosera ) are one type is one of the larger varieties with petioles ditions and therefore requires vegetative years a number of methods of propagat - of carnivorous plant. There are over 170 well over a foot in height. This form can pro - propagation in order to multiply (see ing plants have been employed to different species of Drosera [2]. Some of duce a number of forks, but typically two to Propagation using root cuttings). achieve such aims. Some of the methods these species are annuals (species that form a four pointed leaf. One of the leaves Drosera burmannii and D. capillaris are that can be used to multiply a plant only live for a short period of time before currently in my collection has been measured smaller, rosetted species of sundews. In my include, but are not restricted to – perishing to be replaced the following at 22cm across. The flowerscape can reach conditions D. burmannii on average reaches seeds, leaf cuttings, divisions, rhizome season by seed), whereas most species over two feet in height and produces a num - a diameter of around 2.0cm*. However, a and root cuttings and tissue culture. are perennials (can live for a number of ber of large white flowers. Unlike some of while ago I had a D. burmannii which reached This review will focus on some of the years, some species experiencing a winter the smaller forms of D. binata , this plant does approximately 100mm in diameter.

16 – VCPS VCPS – 17 species are self-pollinating, meaning that they do not require the pollen from a sec - ond plant to produce seeds. The seed of Drosera can be extremely variable. Some seeds are long and thin, as for D. capensis , or rounded as for D. filiformis var filiformis . Seeds are black in colour, and for most species the seeds sprout readily within a one to two month period. Seed should be sprinkled on the surface of growing medium that is composed of peat moss, or a mixture of peat moss, perlite and Drosera capensis. Drosera capensis flower close-up. coarse washed river sand. Placing pots or trays containing Drosera seeds in a closed This plant was growing in a Lithuanian- becomes older. The top half of the leaf is humid environment is recommended. The based peat moss. I have found that D. capillaris covered in red sticky glands (or white for Drosera genus contains many tough species usually reaches a diameter of around 1.5cm* the registered D. capensis ‘Albino’). and many of these will readily germinate (although these have been known to reach The leaves of D. capensis readily fold over when exposed to harsh outdoor conditions. 8cm in diameter, [1] and personal comment an insect when captured. This species can Furthermore, for some species if given the from a reviewer). spread very rapidly by seed in a short peri - chance, a single plant placed in a large con - Both of these sundews form a rosette- od of time. It produces a flowerscape that tainer is capable of filling the container with shaped growth habit with rounded leaves in is 29cm* long, and produces pink/purple hundreds of plants within a few months. Drosera filiformis var . filiformis. the case of D. capillaris and wedge shaped flowers (or white flowers for the sub - Therefore, the advantage of using seeds as PROPAGATION OF DROSERA leaves in D. burmannii . The major differences species D. capensis ‘Albino’). the main method of propagation for this BY DIVISION between the two species is that of leaf The majority of Drosera propagate read - genus is the large number of plants that will Some varieties of Drosera can produce a colour, leaf shape and flower colour. ily from seed. This method is often the result, and depending on the species, these number of plants from the main section of Although both species produce short favoured method of propagation for a num - can reach full size from a few months to a the plant. Examples of species that com - flowerscapes (13cm for both D. burmannii ber of species such as D. burmannii and couple of years. monly divide to produce new plants include and D. capillaris )*, D. burmannii generally pro - D. capensis which produce seedlings that Unfortunately, for a number of species it D. binata forms and D. filiformis . It is possible duces white-coloured flowers and D. capil - can easily infest a pot within a few months. is difficult, and sometimes not possible for laris usually produces pink-coloured flowers However, there are a number of species to divide up these plants from the main sec - these plants to produce seeds without two tion of the plant, provided these plantlets (white coloured flowers have also been such as D. binata var. dichotoma “Giant” that different clones. D. binata var. dichotoma observed for D. capillaris , personal comment have their own root system. These can be do not produce seeds by self pollination, “Giant”, has been in my collection for from a reviewer). Also, the most commonly potted up in either pure peat moss, or a and therefore require vegetative methods approximately 12 years and has never grown form of D. burmannii produces light mixture of peat moss (3 parts) and coarse for propagation. In this case, other methods produced seeds. For this variety, vegetative green-coloured leaves, whereas D. capillaris such as root cuttings seem to be an effec - washed river sand (1 part). D. filiformis in propagation is the only method of produc - will produce dark green leaves which turn tive method for the propagation of this particular readily divides to produce a num - ing more plants. Other varieties of Drosera red to dark-red if the plants are exposed to form of D. binata . This is probably due to ber of new plants. This normally takes place binata – D. binata var multifida and D. binata high light intensity. the thickness and fleshiness of the roots. in the middle of summer prior to the plants Drosera capensis (the Cape sundew) has var. multifida f extrema, which are beautiful undergoing a winter resting period, as indi - leaves 10cm* long that grow from a com - PROPAGATION OF DROSERA BY SEEDS red, and highly leaf forking variants of the cated by the formation of a green, round mon growth point. This growth point takes Seeds are the most common method of giant version, have never produced seeds in resting bud or hibernacula. In early spring, on the appearance of a stem as the plant propagation of Drosera . Many of the Drosera my collection either. these small plantlets can be divided off the

18 – VCPS VCPS – 19 main plant and placed in separate pots using because the plant(s) often tend to shoot protocols that can be used for different pur - the growing medium already described. from the base of the leaf, and it seems that poses. I have successfully managed to germi - The advantage of producing plantlets by a small piece of the plants stem that is left nate seeds of D. capensis onto an agar division is that a number of mature plants intact promotes the growth of a new plant. medium. These seedlings were then planted may be produced at a more rapid rate. These leaves should be buried no more into a growing medium (peat moss and sand), These will usually reach adult size within a than about 1/3 of the total leaf length into however it was noted that seedlings that few months if they are not already mature. the growing medium. The media can be a were sprouted onto the agar media and then The only disadvantage (which is usually rare mixture of peat moss and coarse washed transplanted seemed to take longer to grow with this prolific genus) is that divisions, even river sand, pure peat moss, or a favourable in comparison to a plant sprouted directly with their own root system, are susceptible option for leaf cuttings, sphagnum moss. It is into a peat and sand growing medium. to rot caused as a result of fungal attacks. If possible to lay leaves horizontally along the such a case occurs it is recommended that surface of the growing medium, and plantlets CONCLUSION the affected cuttings are removed as soon as will shoot along the length of the entire leaf. This review has considered a range of prop - possible, and to treat the remaining cuttings The pots with cuttings should be placed agating techniques that I have had success in with an appropriate fungicide. in a terrarium or a container covered with a using on the genus Drosera . Although this Drosera adelae . sheet of glass or perspex to create a humid family of plants is very prolific worldwide, USING ROOT CUTTINGS AS A conditions. These root pieces should begin to environment. The leaves should produce there are a number of species that are rare METHOD OF PROPAGATION shoot within a month or so, and the plants can plantlet(s) in two to three months, and and therefore limited in numbers. It is there - For a number of species, the use of root usually be separated and potted up following these can be removed from the terrarium fore possible to apply the same techniques cuttings can be very successful. For varieties around three or four months growth, provi- and placed outdoors after such time that on rare species of sundews that are gener - with thicker, fleshy roots, this method is ded the plants have their own root system. they have developed their own root system. ally more difficult to reproduce or obtain. very appropriate. I have successfully man - The advantage of using root cuttings as a I have propagated D. capillaris using this “Author’s Note” aged to produce plantlets for the species method of propagation is that it produces a method, and have observed a plantlet grow - *These measurements were performed by D. adelae , D. binata and D. capensis using large number of plants that can be potted up ing out from the centre of the trap where the author based on the largest plants in his root cuttings. separately and treated as mature plants in a the leaf is covered in digestive glands. current collection. Therefore these meas - Long root pieces about 10cm, should be short period of time. Plants grown from The advantage of using leaf cuttings as a urements are relevant to plants grown under removed from the parent plant (remember root cuttings usually reach maturity in a few method of propagation is that a large number cultivation conditions, and not in the wild. do not take too many root pieces, other - months (in the case of the giant form of of plantlets can be produced in a short wise you will reduce the chances of the D. binata var. dichotoma ). period of time. Reference plant recovering quickly). These roots can [1] Cheers, G (1992) Carnivorous Plants of the be cut into smaller sections, say 2-3cm long. LEAF CUTTINGS AS A METHOD OF PROPAGATION VIA TISSUE CULTURE World, Collins. Angus & Robertson Publishers These should be placed onto the surface of PROPAGATION There is a range of various protocols for per - Pty Ltd, NSW, Australia. fresh peat moss, or a mixture of peat moss Drosera is one of the few genera of carnivo - forming tissue culture, and there are specific [2] ICPS Carnivorous Plant database. (3 parts) and coarse washed river sand rous plants that can be successfully propa - (1 part), and then lightly covered using the gated by leaf cuttings. I have successfully same growing medium. Moisten the peat propagated D. adelae , D. capensis , D. capillaris Carnivorous and Unusual Seeds. moss and place the pot into a terrarium or and D. filiformis var filiformis by this method. F.J. & E.M. Howell. a large plastic container covered with a However, it is definitely possible to propa - 3 Normandy Ave, Parra Hills. S.A. 5096 sheet of glass or perspex. Ensure the con - gate many other varieties of Drosera using tainer is placed in an area where it receives the same method. Phone.: (08) 8264 2825 some filtered (not too much) sunlight, When propagating by leaf cutting, it is Fred offers a wide variety of plants and seeds. preferably in a semi-shaded position. important to extract a leaf that is healthy, as Sarracenia, Drosera, Utricularia, Pinguicula, Nepenthes, Dionaea and more. I have also succeeded in growing Drosera well as to ensure that it is removed from as Contact him for his latest list of stock available. from root cuttings outdoors in harsh close to the stem as possible. This is

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