Drosera glanduligera


Drosera glanduligera, the pimpernel sundew,[1] is a rosetted annual species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera that is endemic to Australia. It is 2.5–6 cm (1–2 in) tall and grows in most soil conditions. It produces orange flowers from August to November. It was originally described in 1844 by Johann Georg Christian Lehmann.[1] It is the sole species in the subgenus Coelophylla, which Jan Schlauer elevated from section rank in 1996; it was originally described by Jules Émile Planchon in 1848.[2]

Drosera glanduligera is native to Tasmania and south western and south eastern Australia where it is often locally abundant.[3]

Drosera glanduligera is an annual plant that grows in the winter. Germination of the seeds requires cold temperatures. Young plants eat springtails while larger plants eat flies.[3]

The trapping mechanism of this species is unique in that it combines features of both flypaper and snap traps; it has been termed a catapult-flypaper trap.[4] Non-flying insects trigger this catapult when certain plant cells break.[5] Then this process cannot be repeated until the plant grows new tentacles.[5]

Drosera glanduligera can be a difficult plant to cultivate, mainly due to its stringent temperature requirements, both for germination and further growth.[6] Plants (especially seedlings) must be fed regularly in order to maintain vigour.[6] The plant grows well in standard carnivorous plant soil mixes.[6]


Drosera glanduligera capturing fruit flies using its catapulting tentacles
Slow motion video showing bending of a single snap-tentacle after manual stimulation with a nylon thread
Drosera glanduligera, the pimpernel sundew. Whistlepipe Gully, Lesmurdie, Western Australia