Drosera peltata, commonly called the shield sundew or pale sundew, is a climbing or scrambling perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera. Among the tuberous sundews, D. peltata has the largest distribution, which includes eastern and western Australia, New Zealand, India, and most of Southeast Asia including the Philippines. The specific epithet is Latin for "shield shaped", a reference to the shape of the cauline leaves. It is either a single extremely variable species, or a complex of several closely related species of uncertain taxonomic boundaries. In Australia at least four forms have had or still have specific taxonomic recognition: Drosera peltata subsp. peltata, D. peltata subsp. auriculata, D. foliosa and D. gracilis.
The genus Drosera was divided in 1994 by Seine & Barthlott into three subgenera and 11 sections on the basis of morphological characteristics.
Drosera humilis is a perennial tuberous species in the genus Drosera that is endemic to Western Australia. It has 3 to 5 semi-erect stems that are 3 to 15 cm long with carnivorous leaves arranged in whorls around the stems. It is native to a region from the Moore River north to Kalbarri and east to Ajana and Wongan Hills. It grows in winter-wet sandy soils in heathland. It flowers from June to September.
Drosera monticola is a perennial carnivorous plant species in the genus Drosera, the sundews. This species is endemic to a single mountain range in Western Australia.
Drosera porrecta is a tuberous perennial species in the genus Drosera that is endemic to Western Australia. It grows up to 45 cm tall. It is native to a region from Eneabba and Marchagee south to an area around Pinjarra, including the Darling Range and Mount Cooke. It grows in well-drained sandy soils and flowers from July to September.
Drosera prostrata is a tuberous perennial species in the genus Drosera that is endemic to Western Australia. It produces 4 to 5 prostrate lateral stems that are 3.5 to 15 cm long. The prostrate growth habit is what sets it apart from all other members of the section Stolonifera. It is native to a region along the Western Australian coast from the Tamala area near Shark Bay south to Binnu. It grows in well-drained sandy soils and flowers from May to June.
Drosera purpurascens is a compact tuberous perennial species in the genus Drosera that is endemic to south-west Western Australia. It produces 1 erect or 2 to 5 semi-erect lateral stems that grow to 3 to 10 cm long. The compact size of the plant combined with relatively long petioles distinguish it from all other members of the section Stolonifera. It is native to a region from Mount Cooke to near Katanning and Ongerup south to the Denmark-Albany region. It grows in sand-laterite soils and flowers from July to October, flowering en masse after bushfires.
Drosera rupicola is a tuberous perennial species in the genus Drosera that is endemic to Western Australia. It produces 3 to 5 semi-erect lateral stems that grow up to 15 cm long. The turbinate tuber and mobile lamina that are capable of folding over prey distinguish it from all other members of the section Stolonifera. It is native to a large inland region from Pithara to south-east of Hyden. It grows in loamy soils near granite outcrops and flowers from July to October.
Drosera sect. Stolonifera is a section of ten tuberous perennial species in the genus Drosera that are endemic to south-west Western Australia. The species all have a similar growth habit and all have fan-shaped leaves, but the morphological differences and lack of natural hybrids support the division of the D. stolonifera species complex.
Drosera erythrorhiza, the red ink sundew, is a perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera that is endemic to Western Australia. It grows in a rosette and is distinguished from the other species in section Erythrorhiza by its many-flowered cymose inflorescences with up to 50 individual flowers. D. erythrorhiza was first described by John Lindley in his 1839 publication A sketch of the vegetation of the Swan River Colony. In 1992, N. G. Marchant and Allen Lowrie described three new subspecies, thus also creating the autonym D. erythrorhiza subsp. erythrorhiza. The subspecies were separated from this variable species mostly by leaf morphology and distribution.
Drosera sect. Erythrorhiza is a section of 14 species of tuberous species in the genus Drosera. It represents a natural group of all the rosetted tuberous Drosera. Most species are endemic to Western Australia, but D. aberrans, D. praefolia, D. schmutzii, and D. whittakeri are also found in eastern Australia.
Drosera gigantea, the giant sundew, is an erect perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera that is endemic to Western Australia. It grows 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. D. gigantea produces small shield-shaped leaves along many lateral branches that look like a small tree. Individual plants can grow up to 0.2–1 m (0.7–3.3 ft) tall. Because of its tall, tree-like form, it is considered one of the largest Drosera species. It is also easily cultivated and enjoys damp, humid conditions often provided in greenhouses. White flowers emerge from August to November. The red tubers of this species can grow to be 3.8 cm (1.5 in) in diameter and may be a metre below ground.
Drosera macrantha, the bridal rainbow, is a scrambling or climbing perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera that is endemic to Western Australia. It grows in a variety of habitats, including winter-wet depressions in sandy, loamy, laterite, or quartzite soils. D. macrantha produces small, cup-shaped carnivorous leaves along a long stem that can be 0.16–1.5 m (0.5–4.9 ft) high as it climbs. Its 1 in (2.5 cm) white or pink flowers emerge from June to November, blooming earlier in the more northern range.
Drosera menziesii, the pink rainbow, is an erect or scrambling perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera. It is endemic to Western Australia and grows in a variety of habitats, including winter-wet depressions, swamps, and granite outcrops in clay or peat sand soils or loam. D. menziesii produces small, circular carnivorous leaves along an undulating erect stem that can be .05–1.1 m (0.2–3.6 ft) high. Its pink flowers emerge from July to November.
Drosera moorei is a scrambling or climbing perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera. It is endemic to Western Australia and grows near granite outcrops in sandy loam. D. moorei produces small, circular, peltate carnivorous leaves along glabrous stems that can be 12–35 cm (5–14 in) long. Inflorescences have two to ten yellow flowers and bloom from September to October.
Drosera stricticaulis, the erect sundew, is an erect perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera. It is endemic to Western Australia and is found near watercourses and granite outcrops in sandy clay or loam. D. stricticaulis produces small, cup-shaped carnivorous leaves along green, glandular stems that can be 25 cm (10 in) high. Pink flowers bloom from July to October.
Drosera sulphurea, the sulphur-flowered sundew, is a scrambling perennial tuberous species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera. It is endemic to Western Australia and is found in coastal areas in sandy loam, often among Cephalotus. D. sulphurea produces small, shield-shaped carnivorous leaves along stems that can be 40–60 cm (16–24 in) high. Yellow flowers bloom in September.
Drosera sect. Ergaleium is a section of 26 species that are erect or scrambling tuberous plants in the genus Drosera. This section represents a natural group and are taxonomically monophyletic.
Australia has one of the world's richest carnivorous plant floras, with around 187 recognised species from 6 genera.
Drosera oreopodion is a species of sundew and a member of the carnivorous plant family Droseraceae. It is endemic to Western Australia. It is most noteworthy for being the smallest of all carnivorous plants, with leaves only 5.5 millimeters in length, of which the sticky, circular lamina is only 1.5 mm. It is a fairly recent discovery, being unknown prior to 1987 when discovered by Allen Lowrie.
