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| Drosophyllum | |
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| Drosophyllum lusitanicum in the wild | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Drosophyllaceae Chrtek,Slaviková &Studnička[1] |
| Genus: | Drosophyllum Link |
| Species: | D. lusitanicum |
| Binomial name | |
| Drosophyllum lusitanicum (L.) Link | |
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| Drosophyllum distribution | |
| Synonyms | |
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Drosophyllum (/ˌdrɒsoʊˈfɪləm/DROSS-oh-FIL-əm,rarely/drəˈsɒfɪləm/drə-SOF-il-əm) is a genus ofcarnivorous plants containing the single speciesDrosophyllum lusitanicum, commonly known asPortuguese sundew ordewy pine. In appearance, it is similar to the related genusDrosera (the sundews), and to the much more distantly relatedByblis (the rainbow plants).
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Drosophyllum lusitanicum is aperennial carnivorous plant with woody stems at the base, short, simple or rarely branched, tortuous or erect. Leaves are basal in a dense rosette, sessile, linear, sheathed, circinate, covered with sessile and pedunculated glands. The caulines are sessile, alternate, the upper bracteiform. Flowers are on top, racemiform or corymbiform and bear five 20–30 mm (0.79–1.18 in) yellow petals. The flower calyx has five lobes and is late deciduous. The plant has ten stamens and introrsal anthers.Gynoecium has five carpels. It has fivestyles, simple; capitatestigma. Fruit is in a unilocular capsule, and is partially divided into five locules, with irregulardehiscence by 3-5 teeth. Seeds are pear-shaped and rough, 2.5–3.0 mm (0.098–0.118 in) in diameter.[2]
The 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in)[2] glandularleaves, which uncoil from a central rosette, lack the power of movement common to mostsundews, but have the unusual characteristic of coiling 'outward' when immature (outwardcircinate vernation).[3] Seed germination may be aided byscarification.
Drosophyllum lusitanicum is native to the westernMediterranean region, throughPortugal, southwestSpain and northernMorocco), and is one of the few carnivorous plants to grow in dry soil. It grows mainly in clearings of scrub (mainlyheather), pine forests, evergreen forests (e.g. opencork oak) and sunnyheaths. In dry places and silicon, gravel or shale substrates, somewhat disturbed. It is a strictly calcific species, from sea level up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in altitude.[4][2]
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The plant has a distinct sweet aroma, which attracts theinsects upon which it preys. When insects land on the leaves, they find themselves stuck to themucilage secreted by the stalked glands on the leaves. The more the insects struggle, the more ensnared they become, ultimately dying of suffocation or exhaustion. The plant then secretesenzymes which dissolve the insects and release the nutrients, which are then absorbed by the plant. The plant uses these nutrients to supplement the nutrient-poor soil in which it grows.
The genus had always been assumed to be closely allied toDrosera, and was previously placed in theDroseraceae. Recent molecular and biochemical studies, however, place it in the monotypicDrosophyllaceae, as recommended by theAngiosperm Phylogeny Group, and allied with theDioncophyllaceae (Triphyophyllum) andAncistrocladaceae.
TheAPG system (1998) andAPG II system (2003) assign Drosophyllaceae to the orderCaryophyllales in the cladecore eudicots.D. lusitanicum had previously always been included in the familyDroseraceae, as it catches insects with a method reminiscent of that used by many plants in that family.
Recent molecular and biochemical evidence (see theAP-Website) suggests the carnivorous taxa in the orderCaryophyllales (the families Droseraceae, Drosophyllaceae,Nepenthaceae, and the speciesTriphyophyllum peltatum) all belong to the sameclade, which does not consist only of carnivorous plants, but also includes some noncarnivorous plants, such as those in the familyAncistrocladaceae.
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