Drosersa curviscapa and D. esterhuysenae

From: Eric Green (saharris@iafrica.com)
Date: Mon Dec 22 1997 - 09:27:24 PST


Date: Mon, 22 Dec 97 17:27:24 GMT
From: saharris@iafrica.com (Eric Green)
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg4786$foo@default>
Subject: Drosersa curviscapa and D. esterhuysenae

To all growers of South African Drosera,

There has been some confusion about Drosera curviscapa and D.
esterhuysenae, two rosetted evergreen Drosera from SW South Africa.
>From what I have seen recently I have come to the following conclusions:

Drosera curviscapa is a synonym of D. aliciae (the isotype is a reddish
leaved flat rosette with an ascending scape from the Cape peninsula). Until
very recently I had applied this name to the green, flat rosetted Drosera
from the Hermanus - Bettys Bay area which grows in dry, sandy soil, often
in the viscinity of typical, reddish D. aliciae. This green rosetted variant
has a more divided style than D. aliciae, but is clearly allied to it. Perhaps
it may warrant subspecies status?

Drosera esterhuysenae was described by Salter as a variant of D.
curviscapa (= D. aliciae), whichhe described as having larger, semi-erect
leaves but otherwise identical floral structure. This differs from my
observations, of plants in the wild and herbarium specimens, in which the
styles are undivided. This variant was raised to specific status by Paul
Debbert, and from what I have seen I agree with this. Until these recent
observations of the floral parts I had linked this variant with the green D.
"curviscapa" (= D. aliciae) primarily on shared preference for dry sandy
soil and conspicuous pale green colour which persists even when growing
in full sun.

I have yet to study the seeds but wanted to share my thoughts with those
interested in these amazing plants. Any comments are welcomed.

Cheers,

Robert



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