Drosera spatulata var. bakoensis in situ

[sockhom]

Hello !


I'm pleased to make a field report on this new Drosera spatulata variety. I had the chance to see it a couple of weeks before Mr Andreas Fleischmann and Mr Ch'ien C. Lee published their description in the last issue of CPN. Drosera spatulata var. bakoensis was (and is still known) as "Drosera spec. 8 Borneo".



Bako national park. February 27th, 2009.


We're about to leave the sandstone plateau where Nepenthes and antplants thrive. Oh these beautiful Lecanopteris... !
(Who can spot Myrmecodia, Nepenthes gracilis and Nepenthes rafflesiana on this first photo?)

Yes, there's a storm in this small head of mine...


We're leaving the plateau and its "kerangas" type vegetation (open place, low vegetation) and we're heading into the mixed "dipterocarp forest" which is quite similar to the european forests. We're following a long sandy and humid trail. Sun is fierce. Shoulders hurt.





It's the perfect place for Cicindelidae beetles ("Tiger beetles"). As a long time hobbyist entomologist, I can't help myself to catch one of these armoured and glittering jewels. I've got to admire them. I walk closer... slowly... Have to move my shadow... slow...ly...Gotcha!! And I just used my bare hand!!

[sockhom]

After this small entertainment, we continue our walk. There is so much left to see. The sun breaks my shoulders. It's so hot. The road seems endless...





I know that we should probably meet a special population of Drosera spatulata here. A minute crimson plant known in culture as "Drosera spec. 8 Borneo" or "Drosera sp. Bako". I can't wait to find it. My interest for Drosera is recent but I love those plants, thus I'm relentlessly staring at the path, searching for small red spots...




There! It's one of them!



What a magnificent gem!


Then, I discover rubbons of glorious, sparkling sundews. The red colour is as beautiful as those exhibited by the south American relatives.

[sockhom]

A beautiful moment.

I delight myself with a shot where I gather those shimmering rubies with a neighbouring Nepenthes gracilis. This reminds me of the Nepenthes bokorensis / Drosera peltata picture I took in july 2007, in Cambodia:










In the same place, I was also pleased to discover two species of Utricularia:


Utricularia caerula:







And Utricularia subulata, that I had already seen on Mount Bokor:




Thanks to fantastic Andreas Fleischmann for the Utric ID ;-))



Speak soon,


François.

[andreas]

Brilliant report like we´ve got used to it from yours. ;D

Errm....the Myrmecodias must be the roundish thick "thingies" in the trees of the left upper corner. Two Nepenthes which may be Rafflesiana are growing in the foreground of the lower left corner... one has started to climb, but I cannot spot any pitchers. Another Nepenthes could be growing in the grass a couple of centimetres left from your feet, but I´m not sure. I guess to be sure the photo must be a little larger! ;D

Nice, red jewels on the ground and nice bladderwort flowers. I bet you´ve got very wet feet on that trip. ;D

Looking forward to the next part of your journey!

Greetings,

Andreas

Oh, I forgot one thing! The tiger beetle is cute! Did it bite into your fingers? ;D

[sockhom]

Hi Andy!

I wore good shoes so my feet were Ok.
Yes, the beetle tried to bite me but, fortunately, it was too small to really harm me. Some species of the Cicindeliae family can reach almost 3 inches (Manticora). Their bite can be really painful:

Glad you like the report .

Cheers,

Socky.

[daniel]

Hi François,

great pictures and nice report, thanks very much.

Really a small Drosera species.

I was growing it (Drosera spec. 8 Borneo) since about 7 years, it has flowered thousends of times but it´s seed never germinated. The seed was relatively big in size in comparison to other D. spatulata i´m growing.
It was my smallest Drosera in my collection, but 2 months ago i´ve lost it. For my sadness it seems so as if it died.
I hope it will recover from the roots, who knows.

Thanks for sharing these pictures.

Best regards,

Dani

[sockhom]

Hi Dani ,

Im sorry for you Drosera loss. I hope it will recover from the roots.
Too bad, as I was going to ask you if you had a spare for me .

Speak soon,

François.