Drosera kaieteurensis
| Drosera kaieteurensis | |
|---|---|
| File:Drosera kaieteurensis (1).jpg | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Droseraceae |
| Genus: | Drosera |
| Subgenus: | Drosera subg. Drosera |
| Section: | Drosera sect. Drosera |
| Species: | D. kaieteurensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Drosera kaieteurensis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Drosera felix Steyerm. & L.B.Sm. | |
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Drosera kaieteurensis is a plant from the sundew family (Droseraceae).
Morphology
[edit | edit source]Drosera kaieteurensis is a perennial herbaceous plant, naturally from the tepuis of Guyana. It grows in rosettes with diameters of 6–8 mm, on short stems. The leaves are circular to oval, mostly red, 2–3 mm long and 2 to 2.5 mm wide. The upper surface of the leaf is densely covered with red glandular hairs that secrete a sticky mucilage. The stipules are 2.5 to 4 millimeters long, about 1 mm wide, rectangular and membranous.[2]
The one to three inflorescences are 13 to 60 mm long and have two to nine flowers. The inflorescence axis is one to three cm long, covered with filiform trichomes. The petals are white or pink.
The seed capsules open longitudinally along the capsule walls, and the elliptical seeds are thrown out by the impact of a raindrop from the seed capsule.[3]
Carnivory
[edit | edit source]As with all Drosera, this plant feeds on insects, which are attracted to the bright red colour and the glistening drops of mucilage, loaded with a sugary substance, covering its leaves. It has evolved this carnivorous activity in response to its habitat, which is usually poor in nutrients or is so acidic that nutrient availability is severely diminished. The plant uses enzymes to dissolve the insects – which become stuck to the glandular trichomes – and extract ammonia (from proteins) and other nutrients from their bodies. The ammonia replaces the nitrogen that most plants absorb through their roots.
Distribution
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Drosera kaieteurensis is found in the tepuis on the border area of Guyana and Venezuela, at altitudes of 460-2,400m, on sandy soils or on moss-grown rock. There may also be occurrences in Trinidad and Tobago.[citation needed]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]This species is closely related to Drosera solaris (Drosera felix was considered a close relative, but is now thought to be a synonym). Seed dispersal is a common feature.[3]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ Correa A., Mireya D., Silva, Tania Regina Dos Santos: Drosera (Droseraceae) In: Flora Neotropica, Monograph 96, New York, 2005. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Andreas Fleischmann, Andreas Wistuba, Stewart McPherson: Drosera solaris (Droseraceae), a new sundew from the Guayana Highlands. In: Willdenowia. 37, 2007, 551-555
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