Range: Campo Rupestres region of Minas Gerais, Brazil

 

This member of the D. villosa complex is an endemic to the central Campo Rupestres highlands of Minas Gerais, specifically the northern portion of the Espinhaco Range near Grao Mogol and neighboring cities. Here it grows from 700-1420 meters in elevation, where it primarily prefers semi-mesic sandy quartz habitats but is also recorded in permanent sphagnum seeps and along lowland river shorelines. It may develop a stem averaging 5 cm but can reach nearly 30 cm in height in wet regions, topped with a spreading rosette of semi-erect leaves up to 12 cm across. Each leaf is lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate in shape, bearing a short, heavily pubescent petiole and elongate lamina with similar pubescent abaxial surfaces. Coloration is green to crimson flushed, sometimes solid red, with scarlet tentacles. Inflorescences may be up to 38 cm tall and are covered in minute glands and trichomes along the entire length. Flowers may number up to 30, and are up to 2.5 cm across with pale pink obovate petals. This species is distinguished from its closest relatives (D. villosa, latifolia, and ascendens) by the longer styles in the relatively large flowers, glabrous upper petiole surface and oblong-lanceolate leaf shape, and the relatively short petiole length overall.

 

Cultivation: grow in a 1:1 peat/sand mix or LFS and perlite, kept moist though preferably well aerated and moderately humid, with temperatures of 70-85°F day and at least 10 degrees cooler at night year round (slightly cooler, drier conditions during winter may help trigger flowering). Sow seeds on soil surface, and grow in full sun.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: perennial. Reproduces through seed, and can be grown through leaf or root cuttings (particularly floated on water).

 

Sources: Gonella et al. (2014). Exhuming Saint-Hilaire: revision of the Drosera villosa complex (Droseraceae) supports 200 year-old neglected species concepts. Phytotaxa 156(1): 1-40.