Range: Darwin region and Melville Island, northwestern Australia

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This sundew is a species that is impossible to confuse with any other, even its closest relatives. Its habitats are somewhat unique as well, being thick silty clay soils in areas that are regularly flooded in the wet season and may remain moist during the dry season. Plants may reach more than 10 cm in diameter, with broad flat rosettes of overlapping leaves. Petioles are broad and oblanceolate but short at only 1-2 cm long, narrowest at the base and widest just before a constriction beneath the lamina and often sporting a distinct keel in the center. Glabrous on top, but sports sparse hairs abaxially. Lamina are reniform or somewhat ovate, broader than they are long and up to 3 cm across. Coloration may be olive green with red tints to completely blood red throughout. Inflorescences are short, only up to 8 cm tall, bearing up to 12 flowers and covered in short white hairs. Flowers may be up to 2 cm across with obovate, bright pink to white petals that usually have a darker midvein.

 

Cultivation: grow in a loose sphagnum or 3:1 fine sand/peat soil, kept moist to wet during active growth, with moderate humidity and temperatures of 75-90°F year round. If plants show signs of going dormant, allow soil to dry to just damp or almost completely dry until growth resumes. Sow seeds on soil surface (old seeds may require smokewater or GA3 treatment) and grow in strong artificial light to full sun.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: perennial. Reproduces through seed (requires cross-pollination) and natural division, but can be grown through leaf pullings and manual division.

 

Sources: Lowrie et al. (2017). Drosera of the World Vol. 2. Redfern Natural History Publishing.