Drosera arenicola

A sundew from the sky islands. Tepuis are ancient sandstone table mountains in Venezuela, isolated plateaus where evolution has run its own course for millions of years. D. arenicola is endemic to these summits, collected from several tepuis including Cerro Duida, Cerro Marahuaka, Auyan Tepui and the Chimanta Massif, at 1200-2000 m elevation. The name means "sand-dweller," after its preference for quartz sand soils.

On the tepui summits, it grows in sandy and peaty ground along the margins of streams, gullies and rain channels, slightly better-drained spots than the boggy areas favoured by its neighbour D. roraimae.

Plants form semi-erect rosettes on short stems (up to 6 cm) built from persistent dead leaves. The leaves are narrow and strap-shaped, initially upright, drooping with age. Colour runs from bright green with scarlet tentacles to fully crimson. Compared to D. felix and D. kaieteurensis, the leaves are narrower and more erect rather than flat and spoon-shaped. Flowers are small and white, on very short stalks barely rising above the rosette. Our plants originate from Akopan Tepui on the Chimanta Massif.