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Byblis Pilbarana

Byblis pilbarana, or the rainbow plant, is a tropical carnivorous plant found in Pilbara, Australia. It is a relatively newly discovered species of Byblis (plant). Byblis pilbrana consumes insects through the small, sticky tentacles on each skinny leaf to catch small insects.

Botanical History

B. pilbarana was discovered by Lowrie and Conran in 2013 in Pilbara, Australia.

Description

B. pilbarana has many round, green to orange leaves with small, glandular tentacles with mucilaginous secretions at the tip, appearing as a tiny speck of dew. They are often found with many small insects and flies stuck to their leaves, attracted to these leaves. It's tentacles are much denser than most other Byblis species and is the smallest fully grown species overall. They have pedicels taller than the rest of the plant and grow violet flowers with five petals, blooming from early Spring to early Fall. They have overall very close similarities to B. filifolia, B. guehoi, and even B. rorida.

Ecology

These plants are the only species of carnivorous plant to be endemic to the Pilbara region and can thrive in extremely hot temperatures up to 110 degrees, but it has been known to be even hotter. The range of this plant stretches from Mundagullangana all the way to Dampier Peninsula and spreads inward to Karlamilyi National Park. They grow in bogs and wetter savannas as they have adapted to catch and kill insects due to the nutrient-poor soils.