Carnivorous plant encyclopedia - Chapter 3: plants for the expert: Drosophyllum (Portuguese sundew) - the Mediterranean outsider

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Drosophyllum (Portuguese sundew):

Habitat:
Drosophyllum lusitanicum, unique within its genus, is endemic to the sandy pine forests in Portugal and Morroco. In contrast to almost all carnivorous plants, the Drosophyllum is no bog plant but grows on stony and sandy terrain that is characterised by a high level of ambient aridity and very low precipitation. By means of an extremely well developed root system this plant is capable of tapping deeply subterranean water reserves in times of severe droughts. Under the usual local cimate conditions, the Drosophyllum's water requirement is predominantly covered through coastal fogs. Furthermore, brief and weak forest fires don't inflict any bigger damages on the plants but rather open space for growth. More intense burns, however, kill the plant. Due to human settlement pressure and infrastruction measures about 80% of Drosophyllum stock are said to have been wiped out.

Cultivation:

The Drosophyllum is very rare in cultivation; those who are interested in having one most likely need to buy seedlings via carnivorous plant online shops, because most garden centers don't have them on offer. Since the climate and environmental conditions prevalent in the Mediterranean region are very unusual for a carnivorous plant, the Drosophyllum has unique cultivation requirements. The soil composition in its natural habitat is replicated best by creating a slightly acidic mix of quartz sand and expanded clay to make for higher soil permeability. Waterlogging should be avoided because the plant prefers a slightly dank soil; unlike other genera, they don't undergo winter dormancy and even need to be watered a bit more often in winter than in summer. Self-explanatorily, the Drosophyllum craves the sunlight, which is why a sunny spot should be chosen for them. 25-30°C during summer is perfect for their growth and health, even 40°C are no problem for them, while during winter they feel comfortable with temperatures around 10°C. Compared to other carnivorous plants they feel better in a slightly lower humidity range of 40-50%. Ideally, during summer the plant spends the time outdoors on a roofed patio, while during winter they stay in a pot indoors or in a greenhouse.

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Trap mechanism:

As the English term suggests, the Drosophyllum shares similarities with the Drosera (sundew) genus, particularly regarding how the trap works. They have adhesive traps which catch insects by means of mucilage droplets jutting out along the tentacle. These very droplets, which in intense sunlight appear in a shimmering red and emit sweet honeylike scents to gain the prey's attention, start with the secretion of digestive juices in the moment the insect lands on the tentacle, and the more the prey attempts to liberate itself the more it gets entangled in the mucus. Eventually, the insect will either die from exhaustion or suffocate due to the very sticky mucus. Opposed to most Drosera species, the Drosophyllum is an absolutely passive trap, not resorting to any kind of movement. Nonetheless, they are very effective in catching insects.

Much Love and Light,

Alex

Literature Inspiration: Kosmos Garten: Fleischfressende Pflanzen