International Carnivorous Plant Society
Carnivorous Plant Newsletter Archive
Ecophysiological investigation on Drosophyllum lusitanicum: Why doesn't the plant dry out?
Adamec, Lubomir
Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 38(3):71-74
Published September 2009
Abstract
Drosophyllum lusitanicum (L.) Link (Portuguese dewy pine; Droseraceae) is the only carnivorous plant with distinctly xerophytic features even during the growing season, in great contrast to the general strategy in other carnivorous plants (Givnish et al. 1984; Juniper et al. 1989). It grows sporadically in a limited area in the subtropical Southern and Western parts of the Iberian Peninsula in Spain and Portugal as well as at the northernmost tip of Africa in Morocco (e.g., Müller & Deil 2001; Garrido et al. 2003). Drosophyllum is a perennial herb (or short-lived subshrub; Carlquist & Wilson 1995) with a woody stem base which may be up to 1 cm (0.4 in) thick and poorly branched. Adult plants may be up to 90 cm (35.5 in) high. The narrow linear leaves are 15-20 cm (5.9-7.9 in) long and bear numerous immobile emergences (tentacles) with glands and droplets of sticky mucilage (Juniper et al. 1989). The exact morphology of the root is almost unknown; only a relatively thick woody taproot has been described. Guttenberg (1968; see also Adlassnig et al. 2005) presented cross-sections of lateral roots of Drosophyllum and pointed out some peculiarities: the secondary endodermis is heavily suberized, while the rhizodermis is lignified. Carlquist & Wilson (1995) classified the wood anatomy of Drosophyllum roots as xeromorphic.
Keywords: Drosophyllum lusitanicum
Article Citation
Adamec, Lubomir. 2009. Ecophysiological investigation on Drosophyllum lusitanicum: Why doesn't the plant dry out?. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 38(3):71-74.
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