Range: Pico da Neblina, Venezuelan and Brazilian border

 

A species that physically seems to be out of place in Latin America, this plant is an endemic of the Neblina Massif where it grows primarily in valleys on the northern part of the mountain in swamps, boggy savannahs, and along streams at elevations of over 1100-2200 meters. It develops stems that may exceed 40 cm in length and branch occasionally, each branch tipped in a rosette approximately 3 cm in diameter. Stipules are highly prominent, very elongate and silvery. Leaves form erect at first before slowly fanning out and down, forming a pincushion of erect to semi-erect leaves with very long, semi-parallel and mildly pilose petioles and short oblong to ovular lamina. Color is often bright green with scarlet tentacles or a red lamina, but occasionally the leaves may be red throughout. Inflorescences are extremely short and thin, often not even exceeding the length of the leaves, and covered in a very sparse glandular indumentum. Typically only one flower is present per stalk, up to 4 cm in diameter and so larger than the rosette it is nestled in, and composed of bright pink, broadly obovate petals. Uniquely in New World species as well, flowers possess three undivided styles, one of several traits used to distinguish this species from nearby sundews. This trait as well as the large stipules, lengthy fibrous root system, and small lamina on lengthy petioles yet overall diminutive size pair with genetic markers that ally D. meristocaulis with Australian pygmy sundews rather than any other New World group.

 

Cultivation: grow in a 1:2 peat/sand soil, kept moist but well aerated and very humid, with temps of 60-80°F daytime, 50-60°F night, year round. Sow seeds on soil surface, do not transplant once established, and grow in strong artificial light to full sun.

 

Lifespan and reproduction: perennial. Reproduces through seed, and may possibly be grown through leaf pullings.

 

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosera_meristocaulis

https://academic.oup.com/aob/article/110/1/11/2769009

http://rziemer.cpphotofinder.com/rziemer/Rivadavia/D_meristocaulis_flower_Neblina_10.jpg