Drosera subg. Lasiocephala
Encyclopedia
Drosera subg. Lasiocephala, sometimes collectively known as the petiolaris-complex, is a subgenus
of 14 species in the genus Drosera. These species are distinguished by their subpeltate
to peltate lamina
.
The subgenus was first formally described by Jules Émile Planchon
in 1848 as a section
. Planchon included the species D. banksii
in his arrangement, but it has been argued that D. banksii belongs in a clade
with the more-closely allied D. subtilis
. Ludwig Diels
reclassified the genus in his 1906 monograph
of the family and recognizing this taxon as a series
under section Rossolis. In 1996, taxonomist Jan Schlauer argued for the recognition of this taxon at the rank of subgenus, noting that these closely related species share many affinities with subgenus Drosera but are different enough to warrant subgeneric status. All species in this subgenus are native to northern Australia
except for D. petiolaris
, which is more widely distributed to as far as New Guinea
. The plants in this subgenus or petiolaris-complex mostly look like variations of the eponymous D. petiolaris.
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
of 14 species in the genus Drosera. These species are distinguished by their subpeltate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
to peltate lamina
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....
.
The subgenus was first formally described by Jules Émile Planchon
Jules Émile Planchon
Jules Émile Planchon was a French botanist born in Ganges, Hérault.-Biography:After receiving his Doctorate of Science at the University of Montpellier in 1844, he worked for a while at the Royal Botanical Gardens in London, and for a few years was a teacher in Nancy and Ghent...
in 1848 as a section
Section (botany)
In botany, a section is a taxonomic rank below the genus, but above the species. The subgenus, if present, is higher than the section, and the rank of series, if present, is below the section. Sections are typically used to help organise very large genera, which may have hundreds of species...
. Planchon included the species D. banksii
Drosera banksii
Drosera banksii, commonly known as Banks' sundew, is a small annual species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera. The reniform-shaped leaves are attached to petioles and arranged in a circular pattern around the stem. The 5 mm wide flowers are white...
in his arrangement, but it has been argued that D. banksii belongs in a 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...
with the more-closely allied D. subtilis
Drosera subtilis
Drosera subtilis is an erect annual species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera. It is native to northern Western Australia and a single site in the Northern Territory. In Western Australia, it has been collected from Beverley Springs Station, Bigge Island, and the Mitchell Plateau area all in...
. Ludwig Diels
Ludwig Diels
Dr. Friedrich Ludwig Emil Diels , was a German botanist.Diels was born in Hamburg, the son of the classical scholar Hermann Alexander Diels. From 1900 to 1902 he traveled together with Ernst Pritzel through South Africa, Java, Australia and New Zealand. Shortly before the first world war he...
reclassified the genus in his 1906 monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
of the family and recognizing this taxon as a series
Series (botany)
Series is a low-level taxonomic rank below that of section but above that of species.In botany, a series is a subdivision of a genus...
under section Rossolis. In 1996, taxonomist Jan Schlauer argued for the recognition of this taxon at the rank of subgenus, noting that these closely related species share many affinities with subgenus Drosera but are different enough to warrant subgeneric status. All species in this subgenus are native to northern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
except for D. petiolaris
Drosera petiolaris
Drosera petiolaris is a carnivorous plant in the genus Drosera and is the eponymous species of the petiolaris species complex, which mostly refers to the entire subgenus Lasiocephala...
, which is more widely distributed to as far as New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. The plants in this subgenus or petiolaris-complex mostly look like variations of the eponymous D. petiolaris.
See also
- List of Drosera species
- Taxonomy of Drosera