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527
R.L. Barrett & A. Lowrie, Typication in Drosera section Arachnopus
Nuytsia The journal of the Western Australian Herbarium
23: 527–541 Published online 21 November 2013
© Department of Parks and Wildlife 2013 ISSN 2200-2790 (Online)
hp://orabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/nuytsia/ ISSN0085-4417(Print)
Typication and application of names in Drosera section Arachnopus
(Droseraceae)
Russell L. Barrett1 and Allen Lowrie2
1Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, Western Australia 6005
1School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Australia,
Crawley, Western Australia 6009
1Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104,
Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983
26 Glenn Place, Duncraig, 6023, Western Australia
1Corresponding author, email: russell.barrett@bgpa.wa.gov.au
Abstract
Barrett, R.L. & Lowrie, A. Typication and application of names in Drosera section Arachnopus
(Droseraceae). Nuytsia 23: 527–541 (2013). Taxonomic review of the Drosera indica L. (Droseraceae)
complex requires the clarication of a number of published names. This paper is focussed on the
application of names applying to taxa occurring in Australia. Two lectotypes are chosen and one
neotype is designated for names historically listed as synonyms of D. indica. Drosera serpens Planch.
and D. angustifolia F.Muell. are lectotypied. A neotype is selected for D. hexagynia Blanco as no
original material is known. Drosera hexagynia is considered to be a synonym of D. indica. Drosera
angustifolia and D. indica f. robusta F.M.Bailey are here considered to be synonyms of D. nlaysoniana
Wall. ex. Arn. Drosera angustifolia var. purpuriora F.Muell. ex Diels is an illegitimate name. Notes
are provided on D. hartmeyerorum Schlauer, the only other named Australian taxon in this species
complex. Characteristics of the seeds, anthers and glandular hairs are considered diagnostic at the
species level. Illustrations of key identifying features and full descriptions of the Australian species
are provided.
Introduction
The Drosera indica L. species complex is known to be highly morphologically variable (Lowrie 1998;
Susandarini et al. 2002; Short 2011). A number of species have been recognised in this complex:
D. indica from Sri Lanka (Linnaeus 1753), D. minor Schum. & Thon. from Guinea (Schumacher 1827),
D. nlaysoniana Wall. ex Arn. from Vietnam (Wallich 1828; Arnott 1837), D. hexagynia Blanco from
the Philippines (as D. hexaginia, Blanco 1837), D. serpens Planch. from northern Australia (Planchon
1848), D. angustifolia F.Muell. from southern Australia (Mueller 1855), D. metziana Gand. from
Mangalore in India (Gandoger 1913), D. makinoi Masam. from southern Japan (Masamune 1932)
and D. hartmeyerorum Schlauer from the north-west of Australia (Schlauer 2001).
While the taxa listed above and a number of infraspecic taxa (not listed) have been named formally,
a stable nomenclature addressing the observed morphological variation has not been achieved. Most
authors have recognised a single variable taxon, widespread from Australia, north to Japan, and across
Asia, India and Africa (van Steenis 1953; Ohwi 1965; Obermeyer 1970; Conn 1980; Marchant 1981;
528 Nuytsia Vol. 23 (2013)
Marchant & George 1982; Wheeler 1992; Lowrie 1998; Lu Lianli & Katsuhiko Kondo 2001; Jayaram
& Prasad 2006; Conran & Marchant 2011; Short 2011). Most of the available species names were
published pre-1900 and all of them were synonymised under a variable D. indica by Diels (1906)
whose broad concept has been largely followed ever since. Susandarini et al. (2002) assessed a large
range of Australian material and identied signicant levels of variation, suggesting that multiple taxa
should be recognised, but they were unable to satisfactorily resolve species boundaries at that time.
In naming D. angustifolia in 1855, Ferdinand Mueller stated ‘Only the thoughts, that science does not
disdain the smallest gift, that the last links of a long chain of observations are often closed by a most
insignicant discovery, which isolated would be unimportant—only those thoughts could induce me
to offer out of the botanical treasures of this country some novelties or rarities which rewarded my
last explorations’ (Mueller 1855). The conclusions we arrive at here follow extensive study in the eld
and in herbaria across Europe and Australia, and build on a long history of botanical discovery and
description by other authors. The characteristics that we believe to dene species are relatively ne
and require close examination of specimens. Illustrations of some of the main features are provided as
an aid to specimen identication. Recognition of distinct taxa is particularly strengthened by extensive
eldwork and the opportunity to examine co-occurring taxa in their natural setting.
Field observation of this species complex by both authors spanning more than 20 years, particularly
in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, has made it apparent that multiple species should be
recognised. This paper addresses some of the taxonomic issues regarding existing names as a precursor
to a book on the carnivorous plants of Australia (Lowrie in press). A key to all Australian taxa will be
provided by Lowrie (in press). While this paper is concerned primarily with material from Australia,
the status of several names from outside Australia requires clarication, as a number of morphotypes
are shared between Asia and Australia.
Two lectotypes are chosen and one neotype is designated for names historically listed as synonyms of
D. indica. A neotype is selected for D. hexagynia based on a collection from Luzon Province in the
Philippines. Drosera serpens is lectotypied based on a collection from north Queensland. Drosera
angustifolia is lectotypied based on collections from near the Murray River, New South Wales.
Drosera angustifolia var. purpuriora F.Muell. ex Diels is a nomen illeg. The type of D. indica f.
robusta F.M.Bailey has been examined and, along with D. angustifolia, is considered to be a synonym
of D. nlaysoniana. We are here reinstating D. nlaysoniana and D. serpens as species distinct from
D. indica. We also conrm specic recognition of D. hartmeyerorum.
Methods
Specimens from the D. indica species complex have been examined by the rst author at B, BM, BRI,
CANB, FI, K, L, LD, MEL, NSW, P and PERTH using light microscopy and imaged using a Jeol
JCM 6000 NeoScope bench-top scanning electron microscope at Kings Park and Botanic Garden.
Microphotographs were taken using a Canon EOS 40D digital camera with a Canon MP-E 65 1–5×
Macro lens and Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX ash system.
529
R.L. Barrett & A. Lowrie, Typication in Drosera section Arachnopus
Diagnostic morphological features
Susandarini et al. (2002) assessed a number of morphological features in the D. indica species complex
without adequately resolving discrete taxa. We consider several features to be diagnostic for taxa in
this species complex.
1. The extent of long-stalked glandular hairs on the adaxial surface at the base of the lamina:
reaching the stem, or with an obvious gap of 5–20 mm.
2. A variety of hair types are found in the D. indica complex: stalked, multi-vesicular, capitate
(blackberry-like) hairs; Y-shaped hairs with curved arms; T-shaped hairs; undulating, peltate
hairs; stalked hairs with a dome-shaped head with a thickened rim (bowler hat-like); stalked
mucilage glands (insect-trapping hairs, stalks short, medium or long); and simple unicellular
hairs (Figure 1).
3. Anther shape: anther types in the D. indica complex may be: hooded and dilated, narrowly
dilated, elongate, apically recurved, or standard (Figure 2).
4. Seed surface morphology: reticulate, ribbed-reticulate, or longitudinally sulcate (Figure 3).
5. Seed size: small or large.
This paper provides a summary of the combinations of these characters dening each taxon dealt
with here, along with full descriptions of the Australian species (i.e. excluding D. indica s. str.). A full
review of this species complex in Australia will be provided by Lowrie (in press).
Figure 1. Variation in hair types in the Drosera indica complex: A – stalked, multi-vesicular capitate, or ‘blackberry-like’;
B – Y-shaped with curved arms; C – T-shaped; D – undulating peltate; E – stalked, dome shaped head with a thickened rim,
or ‘bowler hat-like’; F – stalked glandular hairs (short, medium and long) with short simple hairs. Illustrations by A. Lowrie.
530 Nuytsia Vol. 23 (2013)
Taxonomy
Species of the D. indica complex are assigned to D. sect. Arachnopus Planch.
Drosera sect. Arachnopus Planch., Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) ser. 3, 9: 93 (1848).
Type: D. indica L.
Published names in the D. indica species complex are detailed below where they potentially affect
the application of names in Australia. Drosera hexagynia is neotypied and placed in synonymy with
D. indica, which is not known to occur in Australia. Without neotypication, the name D. hexagynia
Figure 2. Anther types in the Drosera indica complex: A–C – hooded and dilated; D – narrowly dilated; E – elongate; F –
apically recurved; G–J – standard (note globular apical projection on H). Illustrations by A. Lowrie.
Figure 3. Representative seed types in the Drosera indica complex: A – reticulate; B – ribbed-reticulate; C – longitudinally
sulcate. Scale bar = 100 μm. Images by R.L. Barrett.
531
R.L. Barrett & A. Lowrie, Typication in Drosera section Arachnopus
could potentially have been applied as an earlier name for the taxon recognised here as D. serpens.
Several names (such as D. minor) are known not to apply to Australian material, but their correct
application requires further study. Names are dealt with in their order of original publication.
Drosera indica L., Sp. Pl. 1: 282 (1753). Type citation: ‘Habitat in India.’ Lectotype: Herb. Hermann
5: 227, No. 121 [icon] (lecto: BM 000621002!), designated by Laundon in Hubbard & Milne-Redhead,
Fl. Trop. E. Africa, Droseraceae 2 (1959).
Drosera hexagynia Blanco, Fl. Filip. (1st edn): 226 (1837), as ‘hexaginia’. Neotype (here designated):
Luzon Central, Philippines, [received 6 November 1903], A. Loher 1637 (neo: P 04583118!).
Selected specimens. INDIA: Prope Mangalore, R.F. Hohenacker [Pl. Indiae Or. No. 189] (G–DC; P).
SRI LANKA: ‘Zeylanica’, Burman s.n. (G–Burmann); ‘Ceylon’ G.H.K. Thwaites 1088 (G–DC; P).
VIETNAM: ‘Cochinchina’, 1879, Germain 26 (G–DC).
Characteristics. The neotype of D. hexagynia has the following ve character states: 1 – the stalked
glandular hairs at the base of the lamina do not reach all the way to the stem, presenting a distinct
gap; 2 – there are only a few short, simple hairs at the base of the lamina; 3 – anthers are classed as
normal, not hooded or dilated; 4 – seeds have a distinctly reticulate surface; 5 – seeds are relatively
small (c. 0.4 mm long). The type specimen also has distinctive liform stipules and the leaf laminae
are relatively short.
Typication. No original material of D. hexagynia is known to exist, so a neotype is required to x the
application of this name. Two morphotypes are found in Luzon Province where Blanco’s D. hexagynia
was named from, one the same as D. indica and one the same as D. serpens. The original description is
quite detailed in many respects, but it does not enable us to distinguish between these two morphotypes,
and so it does not direct our choice of neotype. Typifying this name as a synonym of D. indica is
consistent with the treatments of Planchon (1848) who placed it there at the time of naming D. serpens,
Naves & Fernandez-Villar (1880), and Merrill (1905, 1918), who declined to choose a representative
specimen for Blanco’s name as he was convinced the name was a synonym of D. indica.
Drosera nlaysoniana Wall. ex Arn., in Hook., Companion Bot. Mag. 2: 315 (1837).
Type: Turon Bay, Cochinchina [Đà Nẵng Bay, Vietnam], G. Finlayson 507 [Wallich Cat. No. 3752]
(holo: G!; iso: K 000217501!, K 000659132!).
Drosera nlaysonii Wall., Cat.: No. 3752 (1828), nom. nud.
Drosera angustifolia F.Muell., Trans. Philos. Soc. Victoria 1: 7 (1855). Type citation: ‘On the moist
gravelly margins of the Lakes on the Murray River towards Eustone.’ Lectotype (here designated): Ad
riparium glareosum humidum limose [illegible, c. ‘imbuis’] inundatum lacus [illegible, c. ‘ualb’] .
Murray [Near to banks of gravelly moist, muddy, [illegible] ooded lakes [illegible] River Murray, New
South Wales], Dec. [18]53, F. Mueller s.n. (lecto: MEL 96369!; isolecto: LD!; probable isolecto: MEL
96386!). Additional syntypes: Lagoons near Eustone [Euston], New South Wales, s. dat., F. Mueller
s.n. (syn: MEL 659388!); Victoria, F. Mueller (syn: P 04963025!).
Drosera angustifolia F.Muell. var. purpuriora F.Muell. ex Diels, Panzenr. 26: 77 (1906), pro syn.
(nom. illeg.).
532 Nuytsia Vol. 23 (2013)
Drosera indica f. robusta F.M.Bailey, Queensland. Agric. J. 31: 115, t. 100 (1913). Type: Mill Stream
Falls, Ravenshoe, Queensland, [31 May, supplied] June 1913, E.W. Bick s.n. (holo: BRI AQ0183206!).
Misapplied names. Drosera indica auct. non L.: R. Erickson, Pl. of Prey 52, t. 12(2) (1968), p.p.;
N.G. Marchant, Fl. Centr. Austral. 90, Figure 113 (1981); N.G. Marchant & A.S. George, Fl. Australia
8: 15 (1982), p.p.; T.D. Stanley & E.M. Ross, Fl. S.E. Queensland 1: 192 (1983); J. Brock, Top End
Native Pl. 142, pl. (1988), p.p.; A. Urban, Wildowers Centr. Austral. 56, pl. (1990); J.R. Wheeler in
J.R. Wheeler (ed.), Fl. Kimberley Reg. 238, Figure 67b (1992), p.p.; P. Latz, Bushres & Bushtucker
162, Figure (1995); B.J. Conn in N.G. Walsh & T.J. Entwisle (eds), Fl. Victoria 3: 356, Figure 73i
(1996); K.F. Kenneally et al., Broome & Beyond 97, pl. (1996), p.p.; B.J. Grieve, How Know W.
Austral. Wildowers. (2nd edn.) 2: 58, Figure (1998); A. Lowrie, Carnivorous Pl. Aust. 3: 180, Figure,
pl. (1998), p.p.; G.J. Harden in G.J. Harden, Fl. New S. Wales (2nd edn.) 1: 494, Figure (2000); J. Conran
& N.G. Marchant, Fl. S. Austral. (5th edn.) 6, Figure 1g, pl. 2f–h (2011).
A brous-rooted annual herb with alternate leaves radiating outwards from its major axis in a very
loose open rosette (in plan view). Leaves erect and circinate in the early stages of growth, unfurling to
a semi-erect position then slowly becoming horizontal as they age, resting in a hanging position on the
basal portion of the erect or scrambling stem when spent. Major axis 10–20 cm tall, 1.0–1.3 mm diam.;
covered with tiny translucent white glandular trichomes. Petiole absent, lamina attached directly to the
major axis at its base, 2–3 mm wide, longitudinal margins curved downwards; covered with stalked
mucilage glands and sessile digestive glands, positioned right into the leaf axil against the major axis,
abaxial surface sparsely glandular. Lamina linear tapering towards their apices, longitudinal margins
curved downwards, the adaxial surface convex and the abaxial surface concave in section, 6–8 cm long,
2–3 mm at their widest, adaxial surface including the rolled margins covered with long insect-catching,
retentive and digestion glands, abaxial surface sparsely covered with short glands. Inorescence a
one-sided helicoid cyme, curving outwards from low on the major axis before ascending, 7–10 cm
long including the peduncle, many-owered provided good growing conditions prevail; peduncle
densely covered with tiny translucent white glands; pedicels curved and erect in fruit, 4–8 mm long,
very densely covered with similar glands; bracts subulate, 2.5–3.0 mm long, glandular, scattered along
the rachis. Sepals reddish bronze, lanceolate, 3.5–4.0 mm long, 1.2–1.3 mm wide, upper margins and
apex irregularly serrate, abaxial surface and margins glandular. Petals pink or white on adaxial and
abaxial surfaces, obovate, 4–5 mm long, 3.5–4.0 mm wide. Stamens 5, 1.5–1.8 mm long; laments
translucent, white; anthers yellow, ovate, 0.7–0.8 mm long; pollen yellow. Ovary green, subglobose,
1.0–1.3 mm diam. at anthesis; carpels 3, each carpel slightly bi-lobed, glabrous. Styles 3, translucent,
white, 1.8–2.0 mm long, each forked near the base to form a ± V-shape conguration with each free
terete style segment slightly raised upwards. Stigmas translucent, white, formed within the upper
apices of each of the 6 style segments, papillose, stigmas often curved backwards towards their point of
attachment. Seeds slate grey, ± ellipsoidal, 0.50–0.55 mm long, 0.28–0.33 mm wide, funicle positioned
prominent of the basal pole, 0.040–0.045 mm long, 0.060–0.065 mm wide, apical pole rounded with
a little apical bump, surface sculpture with wide, prominent, zig-zagged longitudinal ridges, ridge
summits at, transverse ridges similar, forming deep elliptic cells, under high SEM magnication the
cell walls and oors are covered with sand-like stellate clusters. (Figure 4)
Distribution. This species appears to be relatively widespread in South East Asia, recorded from
Vietnam, Laos, Taiwan and mainland China, extending to Australia where it is the most widespread
taxon in this species complex. This species is widespread in the interior of Australia, from the Murray
River, New South Wales and Victoria in the south-east, extending north to around Cairns in north
Queensland and Yalgoo in the south-west, to Kununurra in the north of Western Australia.
533
R.L. Barrett & A. Lowrie, Typication in Drosera section Arachnopus
Figure 4. Drosera nlaysoniana. A – base of leaf lamina; B – glandular hairs on leaf lamina; C – anthers and dried ower; D –
seed sitting on curled leaf lamina; E – stem and leaf bases; F – leaf lamina; G – stamen. Images from the holotype, Finlayson
(A, B); Vietnam, Gaudichaud s.n., 1839 (G) (C, D) and A. Lowrie 4005 (PERTH) (E–G). Images A–D by R.L. Barrett,
illustrations E–F by A. Lowrie.
534 Nuytsia Vol. 23 (2013)
Selected Australian specimens examined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Mount Edgar Station, SE from
Marble Bar, 11 June 1941, N.T. Burbidge 1125 (PERTH, 2 sheets); Wade Creek, Osmond Range,
19 July 1991, I. Cowie 1884 (DNA, MEL, PERTH); Nallum Lake, 24 km N of Cue, on Great Northern
Highway, 18 July 2009, A. Lowrie 4005 (PERTH). NORTHERN TERRITORY: Mount Olga, Mar.
1967, W.H. Butler s.n. (PERTH); near False Mount Russell, 11 Aug. 1970, S. Parker 273 (NT n.v.,
PERTH). QUEENSLAND: 31.6 km from the Hann Highway towards ‘Clarke Hills’, 9 Aug. 1997,
A.R. Bean 12259 (BRI). NEW SOUTH WALES: Mutawintji National Park, Homestead Creek, 19 Sept.
1990, G.J. White, I.H. Parbery & C.L. Bale s.n. (NSW). VICTORIA: Hattah/Kulkyne National Park,
E side of Mournpall Track, c. 1.4 km S of Lake Mournpall, 4 Mar. 1993, J.H. Browne 451 (MEL).
Selected extra-Australia specimens examined. CHINA: Sam Mo Watt Village, Kan-en District, 19 Mar.
1934, S.K. Lau 3489 (P). TAIWAN: ‘Formosa’, 27 May 1903, U. Faurie 186 (G–DC; P). VIETNAM:
‘Cochinchina’, 1839, C. Gaudichaud-Beaupré s.n. (G–DC).
Typication. Wallich (1828) listed D. nlaysoniana in his catalogue of plants in the Museum of the
East India Company but the name was not validly published there as no description was given. The
name was validated by G.A. Walker Arnott (1837) who summarised the Drosera taxa recognised
in ‘East India’ and gave a brief description of D. nlaysoniana, describing it as close to D. indica,
but larger with a different habit. Arnott notes that he had only seen one specimen, and that this was
imperfect. Since the specimen at G lacks owers it is considered to be the holotype. The isotypes at
K (two sheets), where Wallich’s main collection is held, are fertile.
Original material of D. angustifolia was examined at LD, MEL and P. Only two sheets at MEL have
been annotated as D. angustifolia by Mueller, the sheet with the largest amount of material is here
designated the lectotype sheet. A sheet at LD has the same labels details and is considered an isolectotype.
The second annotated sheet at MEL has less detail on the label, but is probably a duplicate sheet and
is considered to be a probable isolectotype. Additional Mueller specimens from near Euston were
not annotated as D. angustifolia by Mueller and they are considered syntypes. All of the specimens
considered are quite uniform in morphology and t the protolog well.
The holotype and isotypes of D. nlaysoniana have the following ve character states: 1 – the stalked
glandular hairs at the base of the lamina reach all the way to the stem (Figure 4A); 2 – there are only
a few simple hairs among the glandular hairs at the base of the lamina (Figure 4B); 3 – anthers are
classed as normal, not hooded or dilated (Figure 4C); 4 – seeds have a distinctly reticulate surface
(Figure 4D); 5 – seeds are relatively small (c. 0.40 mm long) (Figure 4D).
The lectotype of D. angustifolia shares the same character states as D. nlaysoniana (Figure 5), with
slightly larger seeds (c. 0.45 mm long).
Initial investigation of type material of D. nlaysoniana and D. angustifolia suggested that two taxa
should be recognised based on differences in seed ornamentation, a greatly disjunct distribution and
different habitat preferences. Specimens in a number of Australian herbaria were thus determined as
D. angustifolia by R. Barrett over a number of years. Further examination of specimens has shown
that there is a more or less continuous distribution between Australia and Vietnam, that the seed
ornamentation is not as distinct as rst thought, and that habitat preference shows a greater range
than rst observed. The two names are here considered to be synonymous, with D. nlaysoniana
having priority.
535
R.L. Barrett & A. Lowrie, Typication in Drosera section Arachnopus
Although the varietal name D. angustifolia var. purpuriora is sometimes cited as having been
validated by Mueller along with his original description of the species name, it is not mentioned in that
publication. The rst published reference we have located is a listing in synonymy in Diels (1906). No
specimen with this name could be located at MEL. All sheets collected by Mueller from the vicinity
of the Murray River are labelled Drosera indica. Both white- and pink- to purple- owered forms are
known in this species. Flowers of white-owered forms dry pink to purple.
The holotype of the form D. indica f. robusta is a good match for the types of both D. angustifolia
and D. nlaysoniana and it is here synonymised under the latter name.
Drosera serpens Planch., Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) ser. 3, 9: 204 (1848).
Type citation: ‘Hab. in Novae-Hollandiae ora Boreali ad Port-Essington, Armstrong n° 618 in herb.
Hook.—In eadem regione loco proprio non indicato (A. Cunningh in herb. Hook.). — Nec non in ora
orientali ad ostia uminis Endeavour; Banks et Soland. in herb. Mus. Brit.’ Lectotype (here designated):
Cape Grafton, Endeavour River, Point Lookout, [Queensland], 1770, J. Banks & D. Solander s.n. (lecto:
BM 000810138!; isolecto: MEL 96397!). Additional syntypes: Port Essington, [Northern Territory],
Armstrong 618 (syn: K!); north coast of Australia, A. Cunningham s.n. (syn: K!, MEL 96376!); north
coast of Australia, A. Cunningham 133 (syn: BM 000790593!).
Figure 5. Drosera angustifolia. A – base of leaf lamina; B – glandular hairs on leaf lamina; C – anthers and dried ower; D –
seed. Scale bar = 100 μm. Images from lectotype, F. Mueller (MEL 96369) (A–C) and Cue, Western Australia, A. Lowrie 4005
(PERTH) (D). Images by R.L. Barrett.
536 Nuytsia Vol. 23 (2013)
A brous rooted annual herb with alternate leaves radiating outwards from its major axis in a very
loose open rosette (in plan view). Leaves erect and circinate in the early stages of growth, unfurling
to a semi-erect position then slowly becoming horizontal as they age, resting in a hanging position on
the basal portion of the erect or scrambling stem when spent. Major axis 15–30 cm tall, 1.6–1.7 mm
diam.; densely covered with tiny, eglandular, translucent, white trichomes as well as a few scattered,
larger, translucent, red glands; a number of larger, translucent, red trichomes bearing large, shiny,
yellow, eglandular, mushroom-like heads (in the style of a bowler hat) but with a ± double rim around
its basal circumference; a few larger, translucent, white glands are also scattered throughout. Petiole
10–12 cm long, 1.0–1.2 mm diam.; free of all long, stalked mucilage glands; densely covered with
tiny, eglandular, translucent, white trichomes as well as a small number of short, translucent, white
glands; Y-shaped, eglandular appendages with translucent, white stems and translucent, pale yellow
arms, positioned mostly on the adaxial surface of the petiole but also scattered elsewhere; lower
margins bearing few or many large, clavate, translucent, red glands. Lamina linear, tapering towards
the apex, longitudinal margins curved downwards, the adaxial surface convex and the abaxial surface
concave in longitudinal section, 10–15 cm long, 1.0–1.2 mm wide, adaxial surface including the rolled
margins covered with long, stalked mucilage glands and sessile digestive glands, abaxial surface very
sparsely covered with short glands. Inorescence a one-sided helicoid cyme, terminal, 15–20 cm
long including the peduncle, many-owered provided good growing conditions prevail; peduncle
indumentum moderately covered with tiny, eglandular, translucent, white trichomes as well as a few
scattered, larger, translucent, white glands; pedicels semi-erect in fruit, 10–18 mm long, indumentum
more densely covered with similar eglandular and scattered glands; bracts liform, 1.0–1.5 mm
long, glandular, scattered along the rachis. Sepals reddish, lanceolate, 4.0–4.5 mm long, 1.0–1.2 mm
wide, upper margins and apex irregularly serrate, abaxial surface and margins glandular. Petals pink
or white on adaxial and abaxial surfaces, obovate, 5.5–6.0 mm long, 4.5–5.0 mm wide. Stamens 5,
2.5–3.0 mm long; laments translucent, white; anthers white, triangular, 1.0–1.2 mm long; pollen
pale lemon. Ovary green, subglobose, 0.8–1.0 mm diam. at anthesis; carpels 3, each carpel slightly
bi-lobed, glabrous. Styles 3, translucent, white 5–7 mm long, each forked near the base to form a ±
V-shape conguration with each free, terete, style segment slightly longitudinally curved upwards.
Stigmas translucent, white, formed within the upper apices of each of the 6 style segments, papillose,
stigmas often curved backwards towards their point of attachment. Seeds slate grey, ± obovoid,
0.50–0.55 mm long, 0.32–0.37 mm wide, funicle positioned slightly prominent of the basal pole,
0.040–0.045 mm long, 0.10–0.15 mm diam., apical pole rounded with a little bump 0.050–0.055 mm
long, 0.10–0.15 mm diam., surface sculpting with wide, wavy, irregular, prominent longitudinal ridges,
summits of ridges at, deep transverse ridges set at ± 90°, rounded, regularly ribbed, positioned close
together, shallow, under high SEM magnication the regularly ribbed transverse ridges and furrows
between are covered with gritty, sand-like grains. (Figure 6)
Distribution. As recognised here, this species is widespread across northern Australia, extending to
South East Asia, including China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Selected Australian specimens examined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Yampi Peninsula, 4 Aug. 2000,
A. Lowrie 2508 (PERTH). NORTHERN TERRITORY: Darwin, July 1955, R. Erickson s.n. (PERTH);
Cox River Station, 14 July 1977, T.S. Henshall 1366 (DNA, MEL, NT n.v., PERTH). QUEENSLAND:
Sanamere Lagoon, 2 Aug. 2008, A. Lowrie 3838 (PERTH).
Selected extra-Australian specimens examined. CAMBODIA: ‘Cambodige’, 27 Oct. 1927, M.E. Poilane
14459 (P). CHINA: Hainan, Nov. 1889, A. Henry 8122 (P). PHILIPPINES: Alaminos, Pangasinan,
Luzon, Sept. 1920, E. Fenix s.n. (P). VIETNAM: Nha-trang, 4–5 Feb. 1914, A. Chevalier 30.427 (P).
537
R.L. Barrett & A. Lowrie, Typication in Drosera section Arachnopus
Typication. Application of the name D. serpens has been complicated by the availability of three
syntypes cited in the original publication. Six sheets have been located at BM, K and MEL. This
material is not uniform and at least two taxa are represented. Not all of the sheets are in good condition
with both owers and seeds, so the Banks and Solander collection is designated here as the lectoype
Figure 6. Drosera serpens. A – base of leaf lamina; B – glandular hairs on leaf lamina; C – anthers and dried ower; D – seed;
E – stem and leaf base; F – dome-capped hairs on stem; G – Y-shaped hairs on base of leaf lamina; H – leaf lamina; I – elongated
stamens. Scale bar = 100 μm. Images from lectotype, Banks & Solander s.n. (BM 000810138) (A–C), Sanamere Lagoon, North
Queensland, A. Lowrie 3838 (PERTH) (D–I). Images by R.L. Barrett, illustrations E–I by A. Lowrie.
538 Nuytsia Vol. 23 (2013)
as it is the best material and can be clearly matched to modern collections from the original collection
location. The original description does not detail the differences we recognise between the available
syntypes, so it does not inuence the choice of lectotype.
The lectotype of D. serpens has the following ve character states: 1 – the stalked glandular hairs
at the base of the lamina do not reach the stem, presenting a distinct gap (Figure 6A); 2 – there are
scattered Y-shaped hairs with curved arms in the otherwise bare area at the base of the lamina (Figure
6B); 3 – anthers are classed as normal, but elongated (Figure 6C); 4 – seeds have a distinctly ribbed-
reticulate surface (Figure 6D); 5 – seeds are relatively small (c. 0.5 mm long) (Figure 6D).
Notes. While the name D. serpens has never been taken up due to uncertainties over its application,
Planchon (1848) recognised this species as closely related to D. indica, but considered it to differ
by being a more robust plant with longer leaves. He noted the distinct ‘petiole’ (bare area at base of
lamina), a characteristic also found in D. indica, but not in D. nlaysoniana.
Drosera hartmeyerorum Schlauer, Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 30: 104 (2001). Type: Cultivated in Germany
from seed [seed collected from the Ord River region near Kununurra, Western Australia], 30 Apr. 2001,
S. Hartmeyer & I. Hartmeyer s.n. (holo: herb. Jan Schlauer, n.v.; iso: K 000659174!).
A brous-rooted annual herb with alternate leaves radiating outwards from its major axis in a very
loose open rosette (in plan view). Leaves erect and circinate in the early stages of growth, unfurling
to a semi-erect position then slowly becoming horizontal as they age, resting in a hanging position
on the basal portion of the erect or scrambling stem when spent. Major axis uniformly red, 10–15 cm
tall, 0.8–1.0 mm diam.; densely covered with tiny, translucent, white, glandular trichomes. Petiole
± absent, lamina green to reddish, attached directly to the major axis at its base, 1.7–2.2 mm wide,
longitudinal margins curved downwards; covered with long uniformly red stalked mucilage glands
and sessile digestive glands, positioned ± in the leaf axil against the major axis, abaxial surface very
sparsely glandular; small, compact groups of large, eglandular appendages, 0.5–0.6 mm long, having
translucent, red stems and shiny, yellow, blackberry-like heads, 0.30–0.35 mm diam., positioned on the
adaxial surface of the lamina in clusters of 4–10, ± c. 5 mm distance from the major axis. Lamina linear
tapering towards their apices, longitudinal margins curved downwards, the adaxial surface convex and
the abaxial surface concave in longitudinal section, 4–6 cm long, 1.7–2.2 mm at their widest, adaxial
surface including the rolled margins covered with long, uniformly red, stalked mucilage glands and
sessile digestive glands, abaxial surface sparsely covered with short glands. Inorescence a one-sided
helicoid cyme, curving outwards a little from the major axis before ascending, 10–20 cm long including
the peduncle, many-owered provided good growing conditions prevail; peduncle sparsely covered
with tiny, translucent, white glands, sometimes almost glabrous; pedicels reexed at base, erect at
the apex in fruit, 10–15 mm long, moderately densely covered with similar glands; bracts narrowly
ovate, 1.8–2.0 mm long, margins glandular, adaxial surface glabrous, scattered along the rachis,
some bracts often bearing a few multi-vesicular, capitate (blackberry-like) eglandular appendages at
their base. Sepals reddish, lanceolate, 3.5–4.0 mm long, 1.0–1.2 mm wide, upper margins and apex
irregularly serrate, abaxial surface and margins glandular. Petals pink on adaxial and abaxial surfaces,
obovate, apex irregularly crenate, 4.5–5.5 mm long, 3.5–4.0 mm wide. Stamens 5, 2.8–3.0 mm long;
laments dark pink, capped with a distinctive reective, opalescent pearl-coloured, rounded, apical
dome; anthers yellow, positioned just below and to either side of the apical dome, 0.9–1.0 mm long;
pollen yellow. Ovary green, ellipsoidal, 1.0–1.5 mm diam. at anthesis; carpels 3, each carpel slightly
bi-lobed, glabrous. Styles 3, translucent, white 3–4 mm long, each forked near the base, branches
erect, free, terete, style segment slightly raised upwards. Stigmas translucent, white, formed within the
upper apices of each of the 6 style segments, papillose, stigmas often curved backwards towards their
539
R.L. Barrett & A. Lowrie, Typication in Drosera section Arachnopus
point of attachment. Seeds charcoal black, ± ovoid, 0.34–0.35 mm long, 0.20–0.24 mm wide, funicle
prominent of the basal pole, 0.04–0.45 mm long, 0.050–0.055 mm wide, apical pole rounded, surface
sculpting reticulate, with deep, prominent, slightly undulate, longitudinal ridges, summits of ridges
rounded, transverse ridges similar, forming irregular pentagonal cells, under high SEM magnication
the cell walls and oors are moderately covered with granular projections. (Figure 7)
Figure 7. Drosera hartmeyerorum. A – base of leaf lamina; B – mixed glandular hairs and multi-vesicular, capitate (blackberry-
like) hairs at base of leaf lamina; C – anthers and fresh ower; D – seed; E – stem and leaf bases; F – stalked, multi-vesicular
capitate (blackberry-like) hairs; G – stamens. Scale bar = 100 μm. Images from near type location, R.L. Barrett & M.D. Barrett
RLB 3318 (A–C), Taylors Lagoon, Western Australia, A. Lowrie 2212 (PERTH) (D–G). Images by R.L. Barrett, illustrations
E–G by A. Lowrie.
540 Nuytsia Vol. 23 (2013)
Distribution. Drosera hartmeyerorum is currently only known from the Kimberley region where
it is widespread, but it may also occur in the Northern Territory, having been observed within ve
kilometres of the State border.
Selected specimens examined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Pack Saddle Plain, 23.1 km from Kununurra,
24 Apr. 1983, R.M. Barker 269 (AD, PERTH); Mount Brophy Springs, Gardner Range, 190 km SE
of Halls Creek, 7 July 1995, K. Coate 370 A (PERTH); Revolver Creek, upper slopes of southern
Carr Boyd Ranges, 12 Mar. 1978, T.G. Hartley 14506 (CANB, PERTH); Lake Campion, 60 km E of
Broome on Great Northern Highway, 29 June 1993, K.F. Kenneally 11384 (CANB, MEL, PERTH);
Parry Lagoon, W of Kununurra, 25 Apr. 1995, A. Lowrie 1103 (PERTH); Taylors Lagoon, 7 May
1999, A. Lowrie 2212 (PERTH).
Typication. The type specimen of D. harmeyerorum has the following ve character states: 1 – the
stalked glandular hairs at the base of the lamina come close to, but do not reach the stem, presenting
a short but distinct gap (Figure 7A); 2 – there are scattered stalked, multi-vesicular, capitate hairs
(blackberry-like) in the otherwise bare area at the base of the lamina (Figure 7B); 3 – anthers are
classed as normal, not hooded or dilated (Figure 7C); 4 – seeds have a distinctly shallow-reticulate
surface pattern (Figure 7D); 5 – seeds are very small (c. 0.3 mm long) (Figure 7D).
Acknowledgements
Directors and staff at B, BM, BRI, CANB, FI, K, L, LD, MEL, NSW, P and PERTH are thanked for
access to collections and facilities. Permission to photograph type specimens at BM, G, and MEL is
gratefully acknowledged. Matt Barrett is thanked for assistance with eldwork and for comments on the
manuscript. Nicholas Lander and John Conran are thanked for comments that improved the manuscript.
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