Drosera gigantea Species Profile

Drosera gigantea Species Profile

Drosera gigantea is a tuberous sundew that is named for its large size.

Drosera gigantea is a large sundew that grows from 30cm – 1m in height. The plant emerges in late winter as an asparagus-like shoot covered with non-carnivorous bracts. This main stem rapidly elongates and branches into a tree-like morphology. The leaves emerge from side branches and stem axils. The laminae are crescentic in shape. The flowers are small and white, emerging from the ends of the upper branches and top of the main stem. The colour can range from olive green to orange and red depending on genetics.

The species is distributed broadly from around Enneaba down the coast along the Swan Coastal Plain towards Bunbury, in the adjacent mountain ranges and the nearby inland plains towards Albany. It is associated with water, whether it is expressed on the surface or flowing subterraneanly. It is commonly encountered in the drainage fields of large granite outcrops and along swampy creek lines.

The only species that shares a similar tree-like morphology is Drosera geniculata. Drosera gigantea can be distinguished by its mostly straight or arching and branches, as opposed to the strongly zig-zagging branches and petioles of Drosera geniculata, which often jut back to point towards the centre of the plant.

Drosera gigantea spp. gigantea. This subspecies is denoted by its green coloration and generally larger morphology. This plant was growing on the sandy banks of a swamp in the Mt Lesueur area. The plant was around 40 cm tall.
Drosera gigantea red form growing in the Perth Hills.
The early growth phase of Drosera gigantea resembles asparagus shoots. The plants emerge at the end of winter
Macro image of the flowers. Note that the usual number of petals is five.
The typical habitat in the Perth Hills. Here, the species congregates around swamps and is associated with the drainage fields of granite outcrops.
Plants emerging out of the sandy banks of a swamp channel in the Mt Lesueur area
The red and green forms of D. gigantea growing together in the Perth Hills.
A giant specimen about a meter tall.
A purple stemmed population in the Perth Hills
A fasciated specimen
Green plants in a grassy field near Cranbourne
Green and red D. gigantea growing with Utricularia petertaylorii, U. multifida and D. menziesii on a granite outcrop
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