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Drosera Solaris, A New Species From South America


Andreas Fleischmann

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Dear sundew-lovers,

Here's an early christmas present for you ;)

A new species of Drosera has been described from the Guayana Highlands of Guyana, the article just arrived today:

Fleischmann, A., Wistuba, A. & McPherson, S.: Drosera solaris (Droseraceae), a new sundew from the Guayana Highlands. Willdenowia 37(2), pages 551-555.

The full-text article for download (for free ;)) here:

http://www.botanik.biologie.uni-muenchen.d..._et_al_2007.pdf

It's a montane species from a small, tepui-like hill in Guyana, at the border to Brazil and close to Venezuela. The plant forms branched stems, has long multi-branched stiplus and flowers on very short scapes (the flowers appear almost sessile, nested within the rosette of the plant) and thus is a little reminiscent of D. meristocaulis. Nevertheless, it isn't related to this strange plant at all, but it's a close relative of D. felix and D. kaieteurensis. Like Fernando already discovered for those two species, D. solaris as a unique way of seed dispersal: the seed is not shed from the capsule by wind as in most other Drosera species, but splashed away by rain drops from an open, cup-like capsule (so-called "splash-cup seed dispersal").

Dsolaris1.jpg

Habit of the plant.

Dsolaris2.JPG

Close-up of two ripe capsules.

Both of these wonderful photographs have been taken by Stewart McPherson and are used with kind permission.

All the best,

Merry christmas and happy hollidays!

Andreas

EDIT: Christian Dietz kindly provided webspace for these two photos. Thanks a lot Christian!

Edited by Andreas Fleischmann
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Hi Andreas,

very good news, this sounds very good. :woot:

The plants are really wonderful, i like these stem forming species. :cheers:

How big are the rosettes in diameter? How high sre the stems?

These plants seem to be very old.

Bye the way, congratulation for the publication. :cheers:

After seeing these pictures i surely will have great dreams. :tu:

Best regards,

Dani

Edited by Daniel O.
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Absolutely stunning new species!! :yes:

Thanks to Andreas F. , S. McPherson and Wistuba!!

I hope to cultivate some "splash-cups" in the near future :yes: !!

Thanks for sharing those pictures!

Iggy

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Oom ... 'Splash'-Cups ... Now, "That"-Really-is 'Different'!

Good-on-Fern. for-'Spotting' This Fundamental Difference in The other-two Species Mentioned.

Any-"Schnappers" on This species?

Hi Iggy,

one of the "splash-cups" you are cultivating yet or not, the D. kaieteurensis. :wink:

The others will follow soon or are you cultivating also D. felix?

Bye bye,

Dani

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Dare I ask if there will be any seed available for this amazing new plant? :laugh:

Oh, here you can buy real Drosera solaris:

http://www.rayo.com.pl/index.php?cPath=22_468

It's fully mature and available at 4 different sizes. Even huge branched ones on long stalks, haha! ;);)

Andreas

PS: Of corse I'll try to spread this species among Drosera expert's collections as soon as possible.

Edited by Andreas Fleischmann
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