Drosera silvicola found at Pauna Wildlife Sanctuary. © Thilo Alexander Krueger
Just an hour outside of Perth, conservationists have uncovered a large patch of Drosera silvicola, one of Western Australia’s rarest carnivorous plants. The significant find offers hope for the species which until now was known from only two other vulnerable populations in south west WA.
A team of 10 scientists and volunteers were nearing the end of a day-long search for the plant at Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary located just east of Perth along the Avon River on Whadjuk country. They were about ready to give up when they agreed on a little detour that led them to the remarkable discovery.
Thilo Alexander Krueger with Drosera silvicola. © Amanda Bourne
“I was so excited when I first spotted the plant out of the car window, I jumped out of the door fist pumping the air and threw myself on the ground next to it,” said Thilo Krueger, Curtin University PhD student and carnivorous plant expert. “We knew it was previously recorded in the area over 30 years ago but given we had already searched for nearly two full days I had started to doubt the validity of that old record.”
Thilo said the crew was driving towards the third and final search area for the day, when he noticed a side track with habitat that matched the requirements of the Drosera silvicola.
“The area had ridges and slopes that sat high up,” he explained. “It was in the Jarrah Forest, but it was an open area with very little leaf litter – the perfect environment for the species.”
Following Thilo’s knowledge and instincts, the crew went to quickly explore the area and within minutes, were greeted with thousands of the small but very distinctive plants.
“Drosera silvicola is a very distinctive species of sundew because of its beautiful, absolutely stunning flowers with pink, glossy petals and a dark red centre,” Thilo described. “While only a few centimetres in size, it captures and digests tiny insects using its leaves which are covered with sticky tentacles.” “We collected a few specimens to officially record the population with the WA Herbarium, and the team will continue to visit the site in the coming weeks to see how the species transforms the landscape as they enter full bloom over the next month.”
As a Priority 1 species, Drosera silvicola is recognised by the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) as being an extremely rare and potentially threatened plant that urgently requires a full conservation assessment. Prior to the significant find at Paruna, there were only two other confirmed populations of the plant located 70 km away, one on an active mine site and the other on mining tenement.
“To find such a healthy population of this rare species on a protected conservation area is a huge win for conservation,” said Dr Amanda Bourne, Regional Ecologist with AWC. “The discovery highlights the importance of wildlife sanctuaries like Paruna in preserving Australia’s unique biodiversity.”
South west WA is the world’s centre of diversity for carnivorous plants, with over 150 species recorded so far. Many of them only occur in very small areas making them vulnerable to habitat loss and climate change.
During the survey, the group of researchers encountered a total of six sundew species including Drosera walyunga (endemic to Walyunga NP, Paruna and Avon Valley NP), Drosera hyperostigma, Drosera pallida, Drosera collina, Drosera silvicola, and Drosera glanduligera.
Experts from the Wildflower Society of WA believe Paruna may be home to many rare plant species, owing to its diverse topography.
“Paruna’s landscape and relatively undisturbed habitats is likely to make it a treasure trove for native flora,” said Jolanda Keeble with the Wildflower Society of WA. “Discoveries like this underscore just how much we still have to learn about the plant life in our own backyard, and how vital it is to protect these landscapes.”
To learn more about AWC’s conservation efforts at Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary, visit: https://www.
Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a pragmatic, on-ground global conservation leader, conserving landscapes and providing hope for Australian wildlife. Informed by science, we deliver measurable conservation impact at scale to secure the future of our most endangered species and their habitats, including restoring degraded landscapes where necessary.
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