Drosophyllum
Encyclopedia
Drosophyllum is a genus of carnivorous plant
s containing the single species Drosophyllum lusitanicum (Portuguese Sundew or Dewy pine). In appearance, it is similar to the related genus Drosera (the sundews), and to the much more distantly related Byblis
(the rainbow plants).
Drosophyllum lusitanicum is native to the western Mediterranean region (Portugal
, Spain
and Morocco
), and is one of the few carnivorous plants to grow in dry, alkaline soils
. The 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) glandular leaves
, which uncoil from a central rosette, lack the power of movement common to most sundews, but have the unusual characteristic of being coiled outward when immature. The plant has a distinct sweet aroma, which attracts the insect
s it preys upon. When insects land on the leaves, they find themselves stuck to the mucilage
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 secretes enzyme
s 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 it grows in.
Drosophyllum lusitanicum bears bright yellow flower
s that are 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter and are born in groups of 3-15 between February and May. The translucent seedpods bear 3-10 opaque black pear-shaped seed
s, 2.5 mm (0.0984251968503937 in) in diameter. Seed germination may be aided by scarification
.
The genus had always been assumed to be closely allied to Drosera and was previously placed in the Droseraceae
. Recent molecular and biochemical studies, however, place it in the monotypic Drosophyllaceae (Chrtek, Slaviková & Studnicka), as recommended by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group
, and allied with the Dioncophyllaceae
(Triphyophyllum
) and Ancistrocladaceae
.
(1998) and APG II system
(2003) assigns Drosophyllaceae to the order Caryophyllales
in the clade core eudicots. D. lusitanicum had previously always been included in the family Droseraceae
, as it catches insects with a method reminiscent of that used by many plants in that family.
Recent molecular and biochemical evidence (see the AP-Website) suggests that the carnivorous taxa in the order Caryophyllales
(the families Droseraceae, Drosophyllaceae, Nepenthaceae, and the species Triphyophyllum peltatum) all belong to the same clade
which does not consist only of carnivorous plants but also includes some non-carnivorous plants such as those in the family Ancistrocladaceae
.
Carnivorous plant
Carnivorous plants are plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans, typically insects and other arthropods. Carnivorous plants appear adapted to grow in places where the soil is thin or poor in nutrients, especially nitrogen, such as acidic...
s containing the single species Drosophyllum lusitanicum (Portuguese Sundew or Dewy pine). In appearance, it is similar to the related genus Drosera (the sundews), and to the much more distantly related Byblis
Byblis (plant)
Byblis is a small genus of carnivorous plants, sometimes termed the rainbow plants for the attractive appearance of their mucilage-covered leaves in bright sunshine. Native to western Australia, it is the only genus in the family Byblidaceae. The first species in the genus was described by the...
(the rainbow plants).
Drosophyllum lusitanicum is native to the western Mediterranean region (Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
), and is one of the few carnivorous plants to grow in dry, alkaline soils
Alkali soils
Alkali, or alkaline, soils are clay soils with high pH , a poor soil structure and a low infiltration capacity. Often they have a hard calcareous layer at 0.5 to 1 metre depth. Alkali soils owe their unfavorable physico-chemical properties mainly to the dominating presence of sodium carbonate...
. The 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) glandular leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, which uncoil from a central rosette, lack the power of movement common to most sundews, but have the unusual characteristic of being coiled outward when immature. The plant has a distinct sweet aroma, which attracts the insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s it preys upon. When insects land on the leaves, they find themselves stuck to the mucilage
Mucilage
Mucilage is a thick, gluey substance produced by most plants and some microorganisms. It is a polar glycoprotein and an exopolysaccharide.It occurs in various parts of nearly all classes of plant, usually in relatively small percentages, and is frequently associated with other substances, such as...
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 secretes enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
s 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 it grows in.
Drosophyllum lusitanicum bears bright yellow flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s that are 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter and are born in groups of 3-15 between February and May. The translucent seedpods bear 3-10 opaque black pear-shaped seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s, 2.5 mm (0.0984251968503937 in) in diameter. Seed germination may be aided by scarification
Scarification (botany)
Scarification in botany involves cutting the seed coat using abrasion, thermal stress, or chemicals to encourage germination.-In botany:Scarification is a natural process important for germination of many species' seeds. This process involves the breaching of the natural seed coating by mechanical,...
.
The genus had always been assumed to be closely allied to Drosera and was previously placed in the Droseraceae
Droseraceae
Droseraceae is the botanical name for a family of flowering plants. The family is also known under its common name, the sundew family.It consists of carnivorous plants: besides the sundews, the genus Drosera, it also contains the even more-famous Venus fly trap Dionaea muscipula...
. Recent molecular and biochemical studies, however, place it in the monotypic Drosophyllaceae (Chrtek, Slaviková & Studnicka), as recommended by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group
Angiosperm Phylogeny Group
The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, or APG, refers to an informal international group of systematic botanists who came together to try to establish a consensus on the taxonomy of flowering plants that would reflect new knowledge about plant relationships discovered through phylogenetic studies., three...
, and allied with the Dioncophyllaceae
Dioncophyllaceae
Dioncophyllaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of three species of lianas native to the rainforests of western Africa.Its closest relative is Ancistrocladaceae. Both of these families lie within a clade of mostly carnivorous plants which since 1998 or so have been moved to the order...
(Triphyophyllum
Triphyophyllum
Triphyophyllum is a monotypic plant genus, containing the single species Triphyophyllum peltatum. It is native to tropical western Africa, in Sierra Leone and Liberia, growing in tropical rainforests....
) and Ancistrocladaceae
Ancistrocladaceae
Ancistrocladaceae is the botanical name for a family of flowering plants. Such a family has been widely recognized by taxonomists.The APG II system, of 2003 , also recognizes this family and assigns it to the order Caryophyllales in the clade core eudicots...
.
Classification
The APG systemAPG system
The APG system of plant classification is the first, now obsolete, version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy that was published in 1998 by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. It was superseded in 2003 by a revision, the APG II system, and then in 2009 by a further...
(1998) and APG II system
APG II system
The APG II system of plant classification is the second, now obsolete, version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy that was published in April 2003 by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. It was a revision of the first APG system, published in 1998, and was superseded in 2009...
(2003) assigns Drosophyllaceae to the order Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales is an order of flowering plants that includes the cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants. Many members are succulent, having fleshy stems or leaves.-Description:...
in the clade core eudicots. D. lusitanicum had previously always been included in the family Droseraceae
Droseraceae
Droseraceae is the botanical name for a family of flowering plants. The family is also known under its common name, the sundew family.It consists of carnivorous plants: besides the sundews, the genus Drosera, it also contains the even more-famous Venus fly trap Dionaea muscipula...
, as it catches insects with a method reminiscent of that used by many plants in that family.
Recent molecular and biochemical evidence (see the AP-Website) suggests that the carnivorous taxa in the order Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales is an order of flowering plants that includes the cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants. Many members are succulent, having fleshy stems or leaves.-Description:...
(the families Droseraceae, Drosophyllaceae, Nepenthaceae, and the species Triphyophyllum peltatum) all belong to the same clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
which does not consist only of carnivorous plants but also includes some non-carnivorous plants such as those in the family Ancistrocladaceae
Ancistrocladaceae
Ancistrocladaceae is the botanical name for a family of flowering plants. Such a family has been widely recognized by taxonomists.The APG II system, of 2003 , also recognizes this family and assigns it to the order Caryophyllales in the clade core eudicots...
.