Drosera arcturi
Encyclopedia
Drosera arcturi is a perennial
, insectivorous
species of sub-alpine or alpine herb
native to Australia
and New Zealand
. It is one of New Zealand's two alpine species of sundew, the other being Drosera stenopetala
.The specific epithet, which translates as "of Arthur" from Latin, is a reference to Mount Arthur, Tasmania
, the type locality
of the species.
D. arcturi grows in wet alpine bogs, tarns and seepages and is also commonly found in Sphagnum
bogs. It is found in alpine areas from the East Cape of North Island
, New Zealand
, southwards to Stewart Island
, New Zealand
. It is found above 1500m altitude in North Island, descending to sea level in the South Island. It is also found in the mountains of southeastern Australia
and in Tasmania
, where it is occasionally found growing down to sea level. In New Zealand, D. arcturi is often found growing in clumps alongside Utricularia dichotoma
.
The leaves of D. arcturi are linear, 1–20 cm long. The nominal alpine form has leaves usually less than 5 cm, but in western Tasmania a lowland form is common with large leaves. Leaves in all forms are undivided and range in colour from light lime green, to muddy brown, to a bright red if subjected to full sunlight. Like all other species of Drosera, D. arcturi catches insects using sticky, glandular hairs on its leaves. In D. arcturi, these glandular hairs are red. Young leaves begin at the center of the plant and are folded along their center. Once the young leaf reaches full maturity it unfolds like a book.
The plants' first upright leaves emerge in spring. After two or three leaves have formed, the nominal form produces a small, solitary white flower, 13 mm across, which is borne on a short stalk in summer, and positioned near the top of the leaves. The giant, lowland form produces 1-5 flowers on a long inflorescence up to 25cm long. Flowers are present from November to February and fruits are present in January-March.
D. arcturi is a summer grower, and after flowering its leaves gradually reduce in size to form an elongated, horn-shaped hibernaculum
. In this form it passes the cold, harsh alpine winters. The hibernaculum is normally buried near the surface of the soil or moss and is usually covered with snow for several months during winter.
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
, insectivorous
Carnivorous plant
Carnivorous plants are plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans, typically insects and other arthropods. Carnivorous plants appear adapted to grow in places where the soil is thin or poor in nutrients, especially nitrogen, such as acidic...
species of sub-alpine or alpine herb
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
native to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is one of New Zealand's two alpine species of sundew, the other being Drosera stenopetala
Drosera stenopetala
Drosera stenopetala is an insectivorous, rosette-forming perennial sub-alpine or alpine herb. The specific epithet means "with narrow petals", which is somewhat misleading given that the petals of this plant are fairly wide. A species of sundew, it is unique within its genus in being endemic to New...
.The specific epithet, which translates as "of Arthur" from Latin, is a reference to Mount Arthur, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, the type locality
Biological type
In biology, a type is one particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached...
of the species.
D. arcturi grows in wet alpine bogs, tarns and seepages and is also commonly found in Sphagnum
Sphagnum
Sphagnum is a genus of between 151 and 350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss or sphagnum peat on the other, the...
bogs. It is found in alpine areas from the East Cape of North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, southwards to Stewart Island
Stewart Island/Rakiura
Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is slightly over 400 people, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban.- History and naming :...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is found above 1500m altitude in North Island, descending to sea level in the South Island. It is also found in the mountains of southeastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, where it is occasionally found growing down to sea level. In New Zealand, D. arcturi is often found growing in clumps alongside Utricularia dichotoma
Utricularia dichotoma
Utricularia dichotoma, commonly known as fairy aprons, is a variable, perennial species of terrestrial bladderwort. The specific epithet is Latin for "dividing into pairs" and refers to the double arrangement of flowers which this species often displays.- Morphology :Utricularia dichotoma is a low...
.
The leaves of D. arcturi are linear, 1–20 cm long. The nominal alpine form has leaves usually less than 5 cm, but in western Tasmania a lowland form is common with large leaves. Leaves in all forms are undivided and range in colour from light lime green, to muddy brown, to a bright red if subjected to full sunlight. Like all other species of Drosera, D. arcturi catches insects using sticky, glandular hairs on its leaves. In D. arcturi, these glandular hairs are red. Young leaves begin at the center of the plant and are folded along their center. Once the young leaf reaches full maturity it unfolds like a book.
The plants' first upright leaves emerge in spring. After two or three leaves have formed, the nominal form produces a small, solitary white flower, 13 mm across, which is borne on a short stalk in summer, and positioned near the top of the leaves. The giant, lowland form produces 1-5 flowers on a long inflorescence up to 25cm long. Flowers are present from November to February and fruits are present in January-March.
D. arcturi is a summer grower, and after flowering its leaves gradually reduce in size to form an elongated, horn-shaped hibernaculum
Hibernaculum
Hibernaculum can refer to:* Hibernaculum , the location chosen by an animal for hibernation...
. In this form it passes the cold, harsh alpine winters. The hibernaculum is normally buried near the surface of the soil or moss and is usually covered with snow for several months during winter.
External links
- Image gallery on the website of the New Zealand Carnivorous Plant Society.