The Stunning Beauty of Drosera salina

Drosera salina habitat

It's been a while since I've checked in with one of my favorite blogs, Esperance Wildflowers.One of the most stunning set of pictures shared by that author was of Drosera salina and its habitat. This tuberous sundew lives in a strange habitat for carnivorous plants. It is most common saltlakes with a thin layer of white quartz sand overlying a havier clay/sand mixture. These habitats are rare as not many saltlakes have less than a centimeter of sand atop the heavier clay.

An incredible image of Drosera salina in the sand

Typically, such habitats are formed when rainwater run-off allows the sand  to be largely desalinated, despite the nearby presence of the saltlake. Unsurprisingly, the plant's tuber does not grow very deeply below the surface of the sand, only about 3 centimeters (an inch). A rosette of sticky leaves is formed just below the sand's surface (or, perhaps, the sand is blown over the leaves) and a red stem extends up to 3 centimeters (an inch) above the sand.

Drosera salina extending above the sand

Due to the rarity of habitat, this species is only known from about five lakeshores. The area, however, has not been extensively surveyed so Drosera salina's range may actually be larger than is currently known.

Drosera salina

As far as the cultivation of this species goes, it is in cultivation. (Allen Lowrie is the major supplier). I haven't personally grown it, yet, but if Allen has it available next year I may do so. I won't, however, have the space to create such a large habitat, unfortunately.