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Drosera acaulis
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D. acaulis near the summit of Matroosberg, WC, South Africa
A white flowered form of D. acaulis from the Koue Bokkeveld, WC, South Africa
Flower of D. acaulis
Habitat of D. acaulis near the summit of Matroosberg, WC, South Africa
Species Information
Nomenclature: Drosera acaulis L.f.
=Drosera pauciflora var. acaulis (L.f.) Sond. in Fl. Cap. 1: 78 1860
=Drosera acaulis Thunb. in Prodr. Pl. Cap. 1: 57. 1794
Publication: Linnaeus, C. fil. (1782). Supplementum Plantarum Systematis Vegetabilium Editionis Decimae Tertiae, Generum Plantarum Editionis Sextae, et Specierum Plantarum Editionis Secundae. Brunsvigae [Brunswick]: Orphanotrophei. p. 188 (Link)
Description:
Distribution in South Africa: WC
Habitat: In sandstone fynbos around seasonally moist mountain summits >1200 m in the Hex River and Cederberg mountains; two outlying population in lower (840 m) Kouebokkeveld alluvium fynbos and in Tulbagh Valley where alluvia has washed down from mountains above.
Conservation:
Phenology:
Taxonomy & Variation: Drosera acaulis is most closely related to Drosera trinervia and Drosera afra. White-flowered and giant variants of D. acaulis have been observed in the Koue Bokkeveld and in Tulbagh Valley, and these are likely the result of introgression with D. trinervia. D. trinervia is absent from the summit area of Matroosberg and only typical pink-flowered D. acaulis can be found here.
Drosera acaulis is known from the Hex River Mtns, the Cederberg, and the Kouebokkeveld.
The short inflorescence of D. acaulis might be an adaptation that helps it reproduce in harsh alpine habitats
The habitat of D. acaulis typically gets snow each winter and the snowmelt feeds the seasonal seepages that D. acaulis and others depend on.
Unusually large plants from the Koue Bokkeveld might be the result of hybridization with D. trinervia.
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