Drosophyllum lusitanicum

Description :

Dewy pine or Portuguese sundewDrosophyllaceaeNative to Portugal, Spain and MoroccoOahu, Hawaii, USA (Cultivated)Ripe fruits or seed pods (2 cm) and seeds (2 mm) pictured here.The dewy leaves smell like honey!Dewy pines are carnivorous plants that grow in dry regions in its native habitat. The monotypic genus Drosophyllum had always been assumed to be closely allied to Drosera, and was previously placed in the Droseraceae (Sundew family). Recent molecular and biochemical studies, however, place it in the monotypic family Drosophyllaceae.Propagation/Cultivation:Seeds are small (2 mm). Scarify seeds by rolling on fine sand paper. Store extra seeds in the refrigerator in a dry area.Drosophyllum are fairly easy to grow with a potting mix that drains well but retains some moisture. They love water. But, unlike many Drosera spp., they DO NOT like to sit in trays of water. Use a potting mix of one part peat to two or three parts of any/all combo of perlite, black lava cinders, pumice and/or fine sand suitable for fresh-water aquariums (not beach sand!). This combination mix will retain some moisture but allow the water to drain freely through the pot. They are grown outside in Hawaii in the full sun alongside sundews (Drosera spp.).Since they do not transplant well, the seed should be planted directly in the pot. That will be their first and final home. Fill a large terra cotta pot with potting mix and plant 2 or 3 seeds in the center at/or barely under the surface. Optional: Put a small patch of peat under and around the seeds to ensure they get enough moisture when they germinate.When they come up, the seeds are highly competitive and one will often prevail over the other siblings. You can nix the the others keeping only the stronger one to grow to maturity.Seedlingwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/10822733873/in/photolist...Use only purified, distilled or rain water.Outside, they naturally catch enough insects, even more that the neighboring sundews, so need to need to give them extra bugs.They will grow into robust plants, flower and seed within a few months.Flowerswww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/19446001581/in/photolist...