Range: region of Darwin, Northern Territory Australia

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Named for the color of pressed herbarium specimens (but hardly applying to much of the appearance of live plants), this species is endemic to the far northwestern Northern Territory, where it grows in sandy wet flats that often flood during the wet season. Plants may reach up to 8 cm in diameter though usually smaller, with a nearly flat to just barely semi-erect rosette of rather flat, oblong leaves. Petioles are up to 3 cm long, narrow oblanceolate with their widest point just ahead of a narrowing by the lamina, sporting a distinct abaxial keep but otherwise glabrous and unmarked. Lamina are barely half a centimeter across, ovate to orbicular with a slightly folded appearance. Coloration is bright green throughout with either orange to rich red tentacles or a nearly fully red lamina, creating a heavily bicolored appearance. Inflorescences may reach 45 cm in height, with a glabrous base and densely covered in white dendritic hairs among the buds. Flowers are up to 2 cm in diameter, with narrowly to broadly obovate, sometimes ruffled white or pink petals bearing distinctly darker-colored central veins. This species can be distinguished from its relatives dilatatopetiolaris and brevicornis by its taller inflorescences and short pedicels, shiny oblong seeds, and densely crowded, numerous flower buds.

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Cultivation: grow in either a 2:1 sand/peat, or loose sphagnum/perlite soil, kept moist to wet and moderately humid with temperatures of 75-95°F during the wet growing season. Should plants being to show signs of dormancy with denser, extremely hairy leaves or leaf buds, allow to dry out almost completely until normal growth resumes. Sow seeds on soil surface (older seeds may require smokewater or GA3 treatment), and grow in strong artificial light to full sun.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: perennial. Reproduces through seeds (requires cross-pollination), and can be cultivated through leaf pullings.

 

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