D Cistiflora in Gordons Bay, SA

[zoit]

I took my dogs for a walk in a nearby field from our house and found D Cistiflora growing everywhere. Thought I will post some pics.

I will be returning to site often to try and catch them in flower as these plants have the biggest flowers of all the sundews.

One of the photos show the type of vegetaion of the area

[Tarence]

thx for sharing zoit...... how did you manage to spot the droseras ? ) feel free to include pix of your dogs as well... i`m a dog lover heheh.

[zoit]

I cant walk or drive past a field or open space without wondering what plants I will find there. I also keep orchids and South Africa is well known for its terestrial orchids like the disa. I know that my area is known to be the area for the endangered and very beautifull bartholina orchid.

I have found some pterygodium catholicum orchids though.

[bactrus]

Wow, those are beautiful orchids. First time seeing them. What kinda enviroment is needed to grow them? Very unique indeed!

[zoit]

Cape Town has mediteranean climate. Hot dry summers (38 deg C) and cold wet winters (5 deg C).

Cape Town is also known for its "fynbos" vegetation. These plants specialise in surviving the dry summers due to its structure.

The Orchids on the other hand can not survive these harsh conditions, so they bloom in spring and die back after wards. These orchids has tubers below the ground to help survive the summers. They should survive similiar condtions as the D cisitflora. It is important to have the right climate conditions, moist well draining sandy soil and correct light cues. Most important is water quality. They get water from mountain streams, in other words, clean.

Interesting though, the Disa seeds can be sown ontop of a sand and peat mixture and can be germinated like Drosera Capensis seeds without special agar mediums.

[bactrus]

This is fynbos season. Wish I can be there to see the cape floral kingdom blooming.

[zoit]

Yes, it is something very special. Especially after a fire. Then you will be amazed about what can survive fires. Much of the fynbos area needs fires to regrow and for the seeds to germinate.

I have attached more photos of plants blooming in spring after a very big fire the previous summer.