Drosera Paradoxa

Drosera Paradoxa –

is a perennial plant carnivorous plant and is the most commonly grown from the petiolaris complex, possibly because it is the easiest to grow in cultivation. As of now the Drosera paradoxa is classified as one species but does have two different growing forms, even though, some can argue there are four different types. I will cover the two most common types as of now. The distinguishing feature between both are the stems.

The first is the typical type. The rosette of the typical type grows its crown at the top of a very short “woody” stem”. This stem is hardly visible when the plant is very young. This stem can continue to grow up to 12″ tall.

The second is a “swamp” type. This type’s rosette grow on a long woody stem. Its well spaced petioles resembles branches of a small tree. This stem’s length is very noticeable from a very young age. The apex of this type has a very tight grown.

Drosera paradoxa can be found growing on sandy soils mixed with pebbles in the beds of streams that dry up in the winter seasons. One particular “swamp type” can be found growing in shallow skeletal soils on limestone ledges. These plants can be found growing in locations around The Northern Territories and Western Australia, regions of Australia. These specific locations are: Beverly Springs, Drysdale River Station, Goomadeer River, Gumadeer, King Edward River, Kakadu National Park, Lady Dreaming Creek, Mount Elizabeth, Mount Fife, Mt. Bomford, Regent River, Theda, Theda Station, and between Mitchell Plateau and Crystal Creek, north of Prince Regent River. These locations are usually in water during March and April.

Its long linear petioles are usually covered in pubescent white dendric hairs, and can range in the color of radish green, red, or purple. Its suborbicular lamina range in the size of a 1/4″ to 1″ in diameter and can become very red when exposed to intense light. The glandular hairs grow on the upper surface. They are longer at the edge and shorter in the center, with very few white hairs on the lower surface.

The Drosera paradoxa’s inflorescence can reach 16″ in height which can blossom up to 70 flowers. The are white or pink in color and sometimes have a red spot in the center. The scape and the lower surface of the sepals are covered with white hairs. In nature flowering occurs during the dry season, between July and September.

Described as a species by Allen Lowrie, in 1997.

(Etymology: from the Greek parádoxos = extraordinary, for its once mysterious life cycle that was
only explained after prolonged visits to its inhospitable habitat)