Range: Queensland, Australia

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The species most aptly named for the “Woolly sundew” group, as lanata translate to woolly; this plant is a narrow endemic to coarse well-draining soils in northwestern Queensland woodlands or shallow rock depressions. Plants may grow up to 8 cm in diameter, with a very short stem and a semi-erect to flat rosette of slender paddle-shaped leaves. Petioles are narrowly lanceolate in shape, covered in dendritic (branching) white hairs and narrowest near the lamina. Lamina are roughly rounded to kidney-shaped with the flattest end toward the petiole, also covered in hairs on their abaxial side. Coloration is typically green, with a yellowish tint to the lamina and bright crimson tentacles, forming a high-contrast appearance. Inflorescences can be up to 25 cm in height, densely covered in the same white hairs and bearing up to 30 blooms. Flowers are up to almost 2 cm in diameter, with obovate, white petals. This species can be distinguished from its other close relatives by its combination of dense, dendritic rather than simple hairs, lanceolate and fairly narrow leaf shape, and having pendulous fruit after the flowers are spent.

 

Cultivation: grow in a 2:1 sand/peat or loose sphagnum mix, kept moist and relatively humid, in temperatures of 75-100°F year round; they like it hot. Should plants show signs of entering dormancy (leaves reduce in size, lose lamina, and form a tight hairy bud), allow soil to dry almost completely until growth begins to resume. Sow seeds on soil surface (older seeds may require smokewater or GA3 treatment, though this is still contested), and grow in strong artificial light to full sun.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: perennial. Reproduces through seed and natural division, and may possibly be grown through divisions or leaf pullings with basal stem intact.

 

Sources: Lowrie et al. (2017). Drosera of the World, Vol. 2. Redfern Natural History Publishing; p. 836-838.