Drosera hookeri
About
A perennial tuberous species, *Drosera hookeri* is notable for its distinct yellow-green to yellow aerial parts and its ability to aestivate as an underground tuber to survive summer drought. It is commonly found in winter-wet, summer-dry grasslands.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant features a white underground tuber, typically found 2–5 cm below the soil surface. The aerial parts range from 5–10 cm in height and are yellow-green to distinctly yellow. It develops a rosette of lunate to semi-orbicular leaves at the soil surface, accompanied by lunate cauline leaves. The aerial stem is often branched multiple times, and the flowers are white, while the seeds are black and cylindrical.
Distribution & habitat
Found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. It thrives in winter-wet, summer-dry grasslands and grassy woodlands.
History & etymology
The species' name acknowledges Joseph Dalton Hooker's original recognition of the taxon in 1848, though the nomenclature was later clarified and the taxonomic concept broadened to include many south-eastern Australian and New Zealand forms.
Conservation
Assessed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Australia
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate