Range: Bako National Park, Sarawak, Borneo

 

Named after the park in which it was originally discovered, this variety of spoonleaf sundew was described only in 2008. Seemingly endemic to the park on the Bako Sandstone Plateau, this variety (which likely should be elevated to subspecies as it is physically and geographically distinct) is found in permanently damp or wet sandy, inorganic soils near open sites such as pathways and seeping rock faces or ridges; only places with constant moisture are inhabited. It grows up to 2 cm across in a flat rosette, with spathulate leaves bearing adaxially glabrous, distinct broad petioles and nearly rounded lamina. Color is nearly always solid scarlet. Inflorescences rarely exceed more than 6 cm tall glabrous at the base and mildly glandular around the pedicels, and bear only 1-5 blooms; the flowers themselves barely reach 1.2 cm in diameter, with elliptic to obovate pale pink petals. Aside from the disjunct range of this variety, it can be distinguished from other forms of D. spatulata by the diminutive size, distinct thick petioles combined with broad rounded lamina, very sparsely glandular upper peduncles, and particularly if comparing to similar New Zealand forms (which may require reassignment as separate species) possess pink-pigmented flowers and no hairs on the scapes.

 

Cultivation: grow in a 3:1 sand/peat soil (though may tolerate standard soil mixes), kept very moist to waterlogged and humid, with temps of 70-90°F year round. Sow seeds on soil surface, and grow in strong artificial light to full sun.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: short-lived perennial. Reproduces through seed, and may possibly be grown through leaf cuttings and division.

 

Sources: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Drosera_spatulata_var._bakoensis.jpg

https://legacy.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/Species/v38n1p4_9.html

https://www.carnivorousplants.org/cp/taxonomy/Droseraspatulata