Q: What is Stylidium like?

• Stylidium fimbriatum
• Stylidium fimbriatum
• Stylidium debile
• Stylidium debile
  fired, top view
• Stylidium debile
  cocked, top view
• Stylidium debile
  cocked, side view

A: The genus Stylidium (triggerplants) contains about 200 species, about half of which occur in Western Australia. Stylidium plants bear stalked mucous glands, especially on the inflorescences. (I can tell you are interested already!) Furthermore, tests show that the glands produce digestive enzymes. Well, hell, carnivory has practically been proven!

Studies showing the plants absorb nutrients have been made (thanks, Doug!). Now a little field work is pretty much all I think we need to put, at least, Stylidium debiles in the carnivorous plant list! Keep your eyes on the literature for future developments.

• Stylidium schoenoides
• Stylidium repens
• Stylidium petiolare
• Stylidium ecorne

Triggerplants have their interesting common name because of a very cool, rapid fire motion some of the flower parts engage in during pollination. This is unrelated to carnivory, but is very interesting nonetheless.

I have recently started growing Stylidium debile and Stylidium fimbriatum, and they grow easily in the same conditions as carnivorous plants. After more experience I will expand this FAQ page.

Page citations: Darnowski, D.W. 2002b, 2017; Darnowski, D.W. et al. 2006.