How many petals does a sundew have?

[Andrew]

Hi,
Just thought I'd share a picture of two abnormal flowers that came up in a pot of Drosera whittakeri. As well as having more than the normal number of petals (5) the flower on the right has extra stamens. Personally, I quite like the right-hand flower.

I don't know what has caused it. I doubt it is pest damage. Maybe the unusual weather patterns we're getting here in Victoria (Oz) are sending the plants out of wack. Last year a couple of pygmies also sent up flowers with extra petals.


Abnormal Drosera whittakeri flower

Andrew

 

[Christian Dietz]

Hi,

Flowers with more than 5 petals seem not to be very seldom. I had such flowers on many of my Droseras this year.

Christian