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Grass Trigger
Stylidium graminifolium
-37.8571, 145.322
Field Notes
Description:
This is an erect perennial herb a little over a foot tall with narrow grass like leaves arising from a basal rosette. Flowers appear at the tip of the inflorescence. in this case there was a single flower in bloom. It looked like a aple pink butterfly with four petals. The stamen and pistil are fused and set on a long appendage that was interestingly held close to the flower along the stalk as seen in pic 1 but as I started handling the flower moving it around for a good photo, the appendage or "trigger" shot up to the position seen in pic 2. <br>
The calyx and underside of the corolla were covered with trichomes that are sticky and used to trap insects.
Habitat:
Spotted in a reserve - dry sclerophyll forest.
This is a plant native to Australia.
Notes:
A very interesting plant because of the trigger mechanism -I am yet to read about this and its function in pollination. The other aspect is the trichomes which help the plant capture insects to supplement a diet devoid of nutrients as it grows in nutrient-deficient soil.<br>
Now used in floriculture and seeds are available. Its ability to withstand drought and to grow in poor soil makes it an attractive and sought after plant to gardeners. <br>
family: Stylidiaceae
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