Day trip to southeastern North Carolina...

[jfowler]

On Sunday, June 8, 2009, I joined three of my photography buddies and headed south on Hwy. 130 in Columbus County, NC. We were looking for orchids and carnivorous plants to photograph. This is a prime area, and we had high hopes.

Our first stop was at a wet power line cut. I had been to this area earlier in the year and had seen Iris tridentata, Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa, and Drosera filiformis var. filiformis. On this day, the Drosera filiformis was in full bloom. There were hundreds of pink flowers dotting the area. We proceeded to fill our cameras with lots of images of these wonderful sundews.

It was still early, so we got into our vehicles and headed down the highway. After a few miles, I began to see patches of white flowers in the mowed grass on the side of the road. I suspected what they might be, but had to pull off to verify my suspicions.

Surely enough, it turned out to be large populations of wild Dionaea muscipula! There were hundreds of plants in the one patch in front of us. I would not have spotted them if it had not been for the fact that they were in full bloom.

We spent about a half-hour studying this site and photographing the plants and their associated plant community.

What a great start to the day. What else could be in store for us…

Drosera filiformis var. filiformis – 2009-06-08




Dionaea muscipula along the roadside – 2009-06-08


My buddy, KT, examining a Venus’ fly-trap flower cluster – 2009-06-08


A nice Venus’ fly-trap group in full bloom – 2009-06-08


Venus’ fly-trap flower cluster with a Japanese beetle – 2009-06-08


From the mouth of the beast – 2009-06-08

[Randy Zerr]

Great pictures! Have any of the D. filiformis foliage?

[jfowler]

Thanks, Randy. I'll check to see if I have any images of the leaves. In case I don't, I'll attempt to give a brief description from memory:

1. The leaves are dark red (not bright red) at the base, then becoming more green towards the distal end.

2. Only the "knobs" on the end of the tentacles are red (rather dark red). The tentacles, themselves, are light green -- even at the base of the leaf.

3. These plants reach only about 2/3 the height of D. filiformis var. tracyi.

4. They don't appear to be quite as robust as D. filiformis var. tracyi, either. They seem to produce fewer leaves during the year.

5. Obviously, they bloom about the same time as D. filiformis var. tracyi.

6. I've never seen them set seed, so I don't know what is the level of seed production.

7. These plants do produce a hibernaculum, but it is not as prominent as that of D. filiformis var. tracyi.

8. The tentacles seem to be longer that those of D. filiformis var. tracyi.

[Brian Barnes]

Hey Jim,

Sounds like some lovely forms of Drosera filiformis var. filiformis you have there. Wonderful shots too, thanks for sharing with us!

Happy Growing,

Brian.