New aquatic petio species that grows under water.

[petiolarissean]

Hey All,Allen has jpeg me 10 new photos from his most recent trip to NT.3 new D.Falconeri sites and a new aquatic species growing under water with tadpoles swimming around plant.I will put up on web site along with photos of building petio tank from scratch.The Palmerston site is officially gone.No more Falconeri at Palmerston.I have made seed of Palmerston Falconeri and can obtain it threw Lowrie.Petiolarissean

[Sean Spence]

I would suspect that it only grows submerged for the wet season as most areas dry out completely during winter. I guess it would be difficult to catch much in the way of prey if the traps were inundated.

Is the plant fully submerged or just the lower half with the traps exposed? I look forward to checking out the photos.

[Not a Number]

Not to mention that the dew would have to be waterproof to work underwater.

[Clint]

I guess it could be vestigial? Or carnivorous for part of the season as seen in D. caduca.

[rusg]

I have seen the same thing with other Droseras in the swampy area behind my place at Howard Springs (30km SE of Darwin). When the wet season starts and the springs begin to flow I get Drosera indica, burmannii and petiolaris growing in the boggy ground. During times of heavy rainfall these plants can be inundated and remain underwater for days at a time. Eventually the water level drops and the plants continue to grow as normal. It is sad about the loss of habitat at Palmerston and the same thing is happening at other locations nearby. Many CP habitats are under pressure from new buildings and the people living in them or the invasive plants they bring with them. Glad to hear that you managed to get some seeds from the falconerii plants that grew there. I hope mine will grow too. Good luck.

Russell

[Clint]

hmmm I thought that this was an aquatic species that mainly grows underwater? Waiting on those awesome pics, Sean!

I remember an old plant whose stems are covered with thick mucilage underwater while the pads floated. Aponogeton something-or-another, so it's doable.

Welcome RusG!

[petiolarissean]

Hey All,Allen said the plants where under deep water for at least a month before he arrived at the site.Maybe 2-3 months they grow like that.Thats what he said.Sean

[brokken]

Oooh, I just left a message asking if anyone has access to falconeri plants or seeds. How do I contact this Lowrie.Petiolarissean ?

[thwyman]

From Allen's papers on the disc he offers he mentions both kenneallyi and falconeri growing this way. He notes that with kenneallyi the leaves of the plant will often grows so as to "float" the traps on the surface. Sort of like little carnivorous water lilies

Sean Spence is also correct that it is a temporary state of being. The same papers note that these "aquatic" habitats dry out to hardpan during the winter and the plants under go their typical bulb dormancy.