Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 14:14:01 +1000 From: ix@dynamite.com.au To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1461$foo@default> Subject: Australia's CP diversity
To everyone,
Here in Australia it is a constant puzzle why some genera are "small" in
the east, but in Western Australia they have diversified spectacularly.
One of these genera is Drosera. Around Sydney there are 5-6 spp, but near
Perth there are about 30 spp, most of which are known as "tuberous" or
"dwarf". Only 4 of these 30 is found on the east coast (D. pygmaea,
peltata, glanduligera, macrantha).
The tuberous stuff (subgenus ergaleium) is unique to Aust, as is subgenus
Rorella (with D.pygmaea, D hamiltonii, D.arcturi), perhaps others too.
I would be interested in learned opinion as to where they came from (eg are
there similar forms in Chile?, how close to Africans eg D. cistiflora).
(Note: Many plant families share common ancestry in Gondwana land, which
split into Aust, Africa, S. America & India at about the time flowers were
first evolving)
WA also has its own unique CP, Cephalotus follicularis, many Utrics, & 2
Byblis spp. The east, despite having a much more varied climate &
geography, has far less variety (NSW 9 drosera, aldrovanda & 7 utrics)
However, if anyone wants to see lots of CP in habitat, you could see 20
different species in one day near Perth. Americans, while your dollar is
worth so many of ours, why not pay us a visit?
{NSW list: D. arcturi, auriculata, glanduligera, peltata, spatulata,
burmanni, indica, pygmaea, binata. U. biloba, lateriflora, dichotoma,
monanthos, aurea, cyanea + 1.}
Allen
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