Drosera subtilis facts for kids

Drosera subtilis is a special type of plant called a carnivorous plant. This means it eats insects! It's a small plant that grows upright and lives for only one year. You can find it in northern Western Australia and in one spot in the Northern Territory.

This plant is part of the Drosera genus, which is also known as the sundew family. Sundews are famous for their sticky leaves that trap insects.

Where Drosera subtilis Lives

This interesting plant grows in specific places. In Western Australia, it has been found in areas like Beverley Springs Station, Bigge Island, and the Mitchell Plateau. These places are all near the Kimberley region.

In the Northern Territory, Drosera subtilis has been spotted near Little Nourlangie Rock. It likes to grow on sandstone rocks where water seeps out. The soil it prefers is sandy and mixed with black humus, which is rich, dark soil.

What Drosera subtilis Looks Like

Drosera subtilis has thin, fleshy roots that help it stay in the ground. Unlike some other sundews, it doesn't have a special underground storage part called a tuber.

The plant has small, sticky leaves that grow along reddish stems. These stems can stand up straight and reach about 20 centimeters (almost 8 inches) tall. These leaves are what help the plant catch its insect meals!

Flowers and Reproduction

Drosera subtilis produces pretty white flowers. Each flower has four petals. The plant's flower stalk, called an inflorescence, can grow more than 50 individual flowers!

Each flower has four white stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens are very small, about 1.3 to 1.5 millimeters long, and have yellow pollen. The flowers also have two styles, which are part of the plant's reproductive system. Drosera subtilis usually flowers between February and March.

How it Was Discovered

The plant Drosera subtilis was first officially described by a scientist named N. G. Marchant. He wrote about it in 1982 in a big book series called Flora of Australia.

When he first described it, he placed it in a group called Drosera sect. Ergaleium. This group usually includes sundews that grow upright or climb and have tubers. However, Drosera subtilis is special because it doesn't have a tuber. Some experts think it might belong in a different group with a similar plant called D. banksii, but this idea hasn't been officially changed yet.

See also

In Spanish: Drosera subtilis para niños