Drosera gigantea
About
Known as the giant sundew, *Drosera gigantea* is an impressive, erect perennial tuberous species notable for its tall, tree-like growth habit, making it one of the largest species in the genus. It features small, shield-shaped leaves arranged along numerous lateral branches.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant produces small shield-shaped leaves along many lateral branches, giving it a tree-like appearance. Individual plants can grow up to 0.2–1 m (0.7–3.3 ft) tall. The red tubers can grow up to 3.8 cm (1.5 in) in diameter and may extend a metre below ground. White flowers emerge from August to November.
Distribution & habitat
Endemic to Western Australia, found in sandy soils at the margins of swamps and near granite outcrops along the Western Australian coast, from Albany north to just south of Geraldton.
Cultivation notes
The species is easily cultivated and enjoys damp, humid conditions often provided in greenhouses.
History & etymology
Drosera gigantea was first described and named by John Lindley in 1839. In 1992, N. G. Marchant and Allen Lowrie described a new subspecies, D. gigantea subsp. geniculata. Jan Schlauer later published a new combination of this taxon at the rank of variety in 1996.
Conservation
Assessed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Australia
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate