tuberous-drosera.net --- home for tuberous drosera

 

Drosera salina

Drosera salina is small erect growing species reaching up to 5 cm in height. This species always forms a green basal rosette during the early stage of the growing season. The leaves of the basal rosette are usually folded and most often the petioles stay below the substrate surface. A glabrous stem later emerges from the middle of the basal rosette. The leaves are scattered solitary. The tubers and flowers are white and open for several days (see pictures below). The pollen is only released a while after the flower opened.
Drosera salina is one of the self-pollinating species.

The combination of size, always formed basal rosette and flower colour is unique.

This species was named Drosera salina because it is growing on the shore of salt lakes like Lake King. Nevertheless, I do not imitate those conditions and grow the species in the same substrate as the other tuberous drosera.
My reason for this is that the conditions at the natural habitat may obviously suitable for the plant but nevertheless they do not need to be ideal or even required. This species certainly has the advantage that it can tolerate salty conditions in contrast to many others, therefore it can grow where other species can not grow. Another species able to tolerate conditions (in that case metal salt levels toxic for many species) is Darlingtonia californica as you all may know very well. But nevertheless, it grows quite well without those conditions.

tubers

seedlings

Tubers of flowering size plants.

Seedlings in their first season.

 

 

plants during the first half of the growing season. Some of the plants start to produce an at this stage still small flower bud.

plants about to flower

Plants during the first half of the growing season. Some of the plants start to produce an at this stage still small flower bud. On the right hand side the plants are about to start flowering.

 

 

plants during the first half of the growing season. Some of the plants start to produce an at this stage still small flower bud.

plants during the first half of the growing season. Some of the plants start to produce an at this stage still small flower bud.

Single plants during the first half of the growing season

 

 

plant about to flower

plants

Single plant about to start flowering.

Plants in flower.

 

 

flower

flower

Flower on its second or third day. Please note that the yellow pollen is released in all but one anther which most likely released its pollen not too long after the pictures were made.

 

 

plant about to flower

plant about to flower, please note the basal rosette

plant about to flower

same plant one day later

one more day later, flower now more or less open

same plant just minutes later: the pollen is not yet released

next day: the yellow pollen now is visible

Pictures of the same plant taken on 3 consecutive days.

 

 

flower with closed anthers

same flower one day later. The yellow pollen now is released.

Close-up of the flowers on day 2 and 3. Please note that one anther is split open on day 2, all are open on day 3 in this case.

 

 

seeds

seeds

The seeds of this species are tiny and round (and roll away easily). The sidelength of a square on these pictures is 1 mm.

 

 






 

Please respect that all texts and photos were created by me and may not be used without my permission.