View source for Drosera spatulata

{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Drosera spatulata var. bakoensis.jpg
| image_caption = ''Drosera spatulata'' var. ''bakoensis''
| genus = Drosera
| display_parents = 2
| parent = Drosera sect. Drosera
| species = spatulata
| authority = [[Labill.]]
}}

'''''Drosera spatulata''''', the '''spoon-leaved sundew''',  is a variable, rosette-forming [[sundew]] with spoon-shaped leaves. The [[specific name (botany)|specific epithet]] is [[Latin]] for "spatula shaped," a reference to the form of the leaves.<ref name="Salmon"/> This sundew has a large range and occurs naturally throughout [[Southeast Asia]], southern [[China]] and [[Japan]], [[Micronesia]], [[Papua New Guinea]], eastern [[Australia]], [[Tasmania]] and [[New Zealand]].<ref name="Salmon">Bruce Salmon (2001). ''Carnivorous Plants of New Zealand''. Ecosphere Publications.</ref> Variants are often known by the localities in which they are found. The plant does not form [[hibernacula (botany)|hibernacula]] in winter, and is easily grown using the same methods as ''[[Drosera capensis]]''.

Carnivorous plant growers consider ''D.&nbsp;spatulata'' to be a weed because it is very hardy and produces copious amounts of seed when it flowers. The seed also [[germinate]]s without much difficulty, causing little plants to pop up in surrounding pots. {{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} 

==Description==
[[File:Drosera spatulata leaf Darwiniana.jpg|thumb|Detail of the leaf of ''Drosera spatulata'' with the sticky tentacles that it uses to attract and catch flies and other insects.]]
''Drosera spatulata'' is a variable [[perennial plant]] that produces small [[rosette (botany)|rosettes]] of numerous [[leaf shape|spathulate]] leaves. This species is widely variable, but generally plants are about {{convert|4|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} in diameter. Each leaf is attached to the central rosette by a narrow 8&nbsp;mm long [[petiole (botany)|petiole]] that is only glandular on the upper half. Individual leaf [[leaf|laminae]] are typically 5&nbsp;mm long and 4&nbsp;mm wide. In early summer, plants will produce {{convert|8|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} tall erect [[scape (botany)|scapes]] with around six small white or pink flowers on each one-sided [[raceme|racemose]] [[inflorescence]]. Each flower can be up to 6&nbsp;mm across.<ref name="Gibson 1994">Gibson, R. 1994. [http://carnivorousplants.org/cpn/articles/CPNv23n3p74_81.pdf Carnivorous plants of New Zealand: A review.] ''[[Carnivorous Plant Newsletter]]'', 23(3): 74-81.</ref>

==Taxonomy and botanical history==
[[File:Drosera spatulata flower.jpg|thumb|Flower of ''Drosera spatulata'']]
''Drosera spatulata'' was first described by [[Jacques Labillardière]] in his 1804 publication ''[[Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen]]'' (from  a specimen found in [[Tasmania]]).<ref>{{APNI2|name=''Drosera spatulata''|id=55557|access-date=2025-03-20}}</ref><ref name="labill">{{cite Q|Q7064396|pages=1(9-10): 79, t. 106, fig. 1|
url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40848178}}</ref> In 1824, ''D.&nbsp;spatulata'' was included in a publication by [[Augustin Pyramus de Candolle]], but misprinted as ''Drosera&nbsp;spathulata'', an incorrect spelling that is still common today. Since its original description, this species has been described under several other names, which have now been reduced to [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonymy]]. Two [[variety (botany)|varieties]] have been described and are currently recognized, the first of which was described in 2005.<ref name="Schlauer">Schlauer, J. 2010. [http://www.omnisterra.com/bot/cp_home.cgi World Carnivorous Plant List - Nomenclatural Synopsis of Carnivorous Phanerogamous Plants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918161537/http://www.omnisterra.com/bot/cp_home.cgi |date=2016-09-18 }}. Retrieved 7 April 2010.</ref> ''Drosera&nbsp;spatulata'' var. ''gympiensis'' was described in 2005 by Robert Gibson and Ivan Snyder, who cited its consistently hairy [[sepal]]s with no [[intergradation]] with the typical ''D.&nbsp;spatulata'' form.<ref name="Gibson and Synder 2005">Gibson, R., and I. Snyder. 2005. [http://carnivorousplants.org/cpn/Species/v34n2p56_60.html ''Drosera spatulata'' var. ''gympiensis'': The formal description of the 'hairy sepal' taxon from South-Eastern Queensland.] ''[[Carnivorous Plant Newsletter]]'', 34(2): 56-60.</ref> In 2009 another variety, ''Drosera&nbsp;spatulata'' var. ''bakoensis'', was described from [[Bako National Park]] in [[Sarawak]], [[Borneo]].<ref>Fleischmann, A. & C.C. Lee (2009). [http://www.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/Species/v38n1p4_9.html A new variety of ''Drosera spatulata'' (Droseraceae) from Sarawak, Borneo]. ''[[Carnivorous Plant Newsletter]]'' '''38'''(1): 4–9.</ref>

===Synonyms===
*''D.&nbsp;loureirii'' <small>[[Hook.]] & [[Arn.]]</small>
*''D.&nbsp;lovellae'' <small>[[F.M.Bail.]]</small>
*''D.&nbsp;minutula'' <small>[[Col.]]</small>
*''D.&nbsp;propinqua'' <small>[[Cunn.]]</small>
*''D.&nbsp;spatulata''&nbsp;var.&nbsp;''loureirii'' <small>(Hook. & Arn.) [[Y.Z.Ruan]]</small>
*''D.&nbsp;triflora'' <small>Col.</small>

===Cultivars===
*''Drosera'' 'Hong Kong' (D'Amato)
*''Drosera'' 'Kanto' (D'Amato)
*''Drosera'' 'Ruby Slippers' (W.J.Clemens)
*''Drosera'' 'Tamlin' (W.Dawnstar)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons-inline|italic=1}}

* [https://www.gbif.org/species/3191227 ''Drosera spatulata'': Images & occurrence data] from [[Global Biodiversity Information Facility|GBIF]]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q138176}}

[[Category:Carnivorous plants of Asia]]
[[Category:Carnivorous plants of Australia]]
[[Category:Carnivorous plants of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Carnivorous plants of the Pacific]]
[[Category:Drosera|spatulata]]
[[Category:Caryophyllales of Australia]]
[[Category:Flora of China]]
[[Category:Flora of Japan]]
[[Category:Flora of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Flora of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Flora of Palau]]
[[Category:Flora of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Flora of Borneo]]
[[Category:Flora of New Guinea]]
[[Category:Flora of Queensland]]
[[Category:Flora of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Flora of Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Flora of Tasmania]]