Drosera Odensis (Wolly Sundew)

Description

Drosera ordensis gets it’s nickname the “Wooly Sundew” from the white hairs covering the leaf petioles. The hairs provide protection from the sun and dry heat by keeping the leaves cool and reducing water loss. ordensis is native to Western Australia near Kununurra and Pago and in the neighbouring region of the Northern Territory in Keep River National Park and part of the “petiolaris complex” of sundews making up the subgenus Lasiocephala. Compared to many petiolaris sundews, it has wide petioles, which are densely covered in silvery hairs. It usually forms rosettes 8 cm across, although plants up to 20 cm in diameter have been reported. Each plant has numerous leaves, which as typical for the subgenus consist of a long, hairy petiole supporting a nearly round lamina. The lamina is densely studded with stalked mucilaginous glands, which serve to attract and trap arthropod prey, which is subsequently digested and absorbed by the plant as a source of nutrients. During the dry season, the plant produces smaller, somewhat dormant leaves which are protected by their dense covering of silvery hairs.Drosera ordensis flowers from December through April. Flowers form on a crowded raceme, opening singly. The five-petaled flowers can be pink to nearly white and are about 1.5 cm in diameter.