Nomenclature: Drosera coccipetala Debbert

Publication: Debbert, A. (2002). Einige neue Arten der Gattung Drosera (Droseraceae) aus Südafrika. Linzer Biologische Beiträge, 34(2), 793–800.

Description: Acaulescent geophyte herb. A rosette of small oblanceolate to oblong leaves, green to yellow to reddish in coloration. A very short inflorescence bearing 1 or rarely 2 flowers emerging erect from the rosette, and without cauline leaves along its length. Flowers with petals that are typically truncated or notched at the apex, and bearing styles which do not extend much farther than the length of the filaments. Flowers typically red, but can be various shades of pink. 

Distribution in South Africa: WC

Habitat: Seasonally moist Shale Renosterveld in open areas. 

Conservation: Habitat loss and fragmentation are the biggest threat to D. coccipetala. The remaining fragments of habitat are usually highly disturbed and subject to nutrient pollution from neighboring agricultural activities. For a long time, D. coccipetala was thought to only occur at one small fragment of habitat on a private farm SW of Caledon. Recently, citizen science platforms have revealed additional populations around Caledon, Bot River, Protem, and Rooidriffie. All of these populations are on private property, but some of them are designated conservation easements- the result of collaboration between the Overberg Renosterveld Trust and local farmers. 

Phenology: D. coccipetala is a geophyte and dies back to a fleshy root after flowering, as the habitat dries. It emerges from dormancy with the arrival of winter rains and cooler temperatures, and flowers in August and September. 

Taxonomy & Variation: At the type location, only red-flowered plants exist, and there they occasionally hybridize with sympatric lilac-colored D. zeyheri to produce magenta-colored flowers. At a newly-discovered population S of Riviersonderend, there is an apparent spectrum of flower colors from lilac to red, but vegetatively, all plants at this site are a match for D. coccipetala.