Drosera adelae – The Lance-Leaved Sundew
Often referred to as “the poor man’s King Sundew” (Drosera regia), this queen from Queensland can be a crown jewel in any collection when grown well.
Drosera adelae is a perennial carnivorous plant. Its leaves are almost completely flat but will rise up from the base of the plant toward light; there is a line like a crease down the center of the leaves. The leaves can grow to be beyond a foot long depending on the light intensity and are usually about half an inch wide. In low light, they will be longer and a vibrant, almost electric green; in strong light, they will be shorter and bronzed to a purplish-red. The topside of the leaves are covered in stalked tentacles that look like fine, white hairs that are each tipped at the end by a minute, red round ball that secretes sticky glue to capture and digest prey.
Unique biology of Drosera adelae
Grow regions & close relatives
Drosera adelae grows in Queensland, Australia; specifically Rockingham Bay, Hinchinbrook Island where it is native. Here, it usually grows in “mountain areas among rocks in sandy banks along creeks in rainforest” (Lowrie 132).
At the time of this writing in January 2019, it’s NCA (“Nature Conservation Act” of 1992) conservation status is Rare, meaning, by 2004’s amendments to more closely align with the IUCN Red List categories, “near threatened”.
Drosera adelae is closely related to Drosera prolifera and Drosera schizandra, also found in Queensland, Australia. “Cytological studies showed that each of these species is 2n=30. D. adelae, D. schizandra and D. prolifera appear to have evolved from a common ancestor” (Lowrie 132). In “The Savage Garden”, Peter D’Amato referred to them as, “Three Sisters from Queensland” and the name has stuck.
Other notable characteristics
Other Sundew species & hybrids
Drosera schizandra
You'll fall in love with the heart-leafed sundew, Drosera schizandra! That is, if you can figure out how to keep it happy... It is a beautiful and unusual specimen, and one of the few carnivorous plants that grows on the rainforest floor!
Drosera prolifera
I'm not sure why this sundew isn't more common in collections; it's literally named for its spectacular ability to proliferate. Along with Drosera adelae and Drosera schizandra, it is one of the “Three Sisters from Queensland” as coined by Peter D'Amato in The Savage Garden.
Drosera adelae
Drosera adelae is one queen from Queensland that can be a crown jewel in any collection. It's quick to grow, quick to self-propagate, and produces dew like it's going out of style.
Drosera filiformis
I've heard Drosera filiformis referred to as nature's anti-aircraft gun for its ability to snipe flying insects out of the air. It's more commonly called the thread-leaved sundew due to its slender, filamentous leaves that reach towards the sky in an effort to tempt low-altitude insects into taking a detour to Sticky Town.
Drosera gigantea
"The giant sundew," indeed! This erect perennial tuberous sundew is one of the largest 'dews around, growing up to 3 feet (0.9 m) in height and branching like a carnivorous tree. Neat.
Drosera scorpioides
A titan among tots, D. scorpioides is commonly known as the shaggy sundew and hails from Australia. Even the darn pygmy plants want to kill you in Australia...
Drosera regia
With 2 foot (0.6 m) leaves the King Sundew, Drosera regia, has earned its grandiose name. It is an archaic species and one of the oldest to survive to modern times.
Drosera spatulata
known as the spoon-leaved sundew because of its' wee spoon-shaped leaves. The Latin name literally translates to "spatula shaped." One may look like teaspoons, another soup spoons... you get the idea.
Drosera capensis ‘Narrow Leaf’
Drosera capensis 'Narrow Leaf' This is your typical "common" capensis. Drosera capensis 'Narrow Leaf' is an incredibly hearty sundew that I have found hard to kill even through repeated neglect. That said, it's a [...]
Drosera binata var. dichotoma ‘Giant’
A monster of a forked sundew, D. binata dichotoma 'Giant' generates forked sundew leaves up to two feet long with four to twelve forks. Since individual leaves fan out from the central growth point, you can end up with 4 foot sundews!
Drosera capensis ‘Wide Leaf’
Cape Sundews hail from South Africa, and are some of the heartiest Drosera around. They're easy to grow, producing bountiful flowers atop long flower stalks and thousands of seeds - often becoming weeds growing amongst your other carnivores.