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Byblis lilifolia is widely distributed through the
Kimberley region of Western Australia and extending into
the Northern Territory. Recent DNA testing indicates that
the Byblis' closest relatives are Butterworts. The
structure of the flower does resemble that of the of the
Bladderworts and Butterworts. Byblis lilifolia grows
naturally as an annual, but can be kept as a biennial if
grown in constantly moist soils. It grows easily up to 12-15
inches, but then can't support it's vertical weight and
topples over.
Glittering and often delicate, Byblis, the Rainbow Plants,
can sometime appear as frosted sprays of water, and in
sunlight can sparkle with multicolored hues. Since the
plants grow as annuals, they must flower the same year
that they germinate in order to produce sufficient seeds
for the next year. The first flowers appear when the
plant is just a few months old, and seed is produced
generously without intervention. Byblis liniflora can
be self-pollinated. The flowers are pink. Occasionally,
the plants survive the Winter and continue growing in
Spring.
After Byblis liniflora matures, it should not be repotted
because it has a sensitive root system, which won't
regrow if damaged. Only the young plantlets, 1-2 cm may
be transplanted, very carefully before their roots
establish themselves securely in the planting medium.
When transplanting, remove a ball of soil with the roots.
Insects are attracted to the dew of the Byblis. The
nectar is secreted by hundreds of glands that sit atop
the long tentacles of the fine, linear leaf. These leaves
branch out from the main stem in all directions. When the
insect lands on the plant, it becomes glued tight by this
sticky substance. Eventually the insect dies from
exhaustion and suffocation. The leaves of the Byblis do
not have the gift of movement so they do not curl around
their prey as some Drosera are known to do. When the
insects succumb and cease to struggle a second gland,
that lie flat along the leaf, come into play. These
sessile glands begin to secret a digestive juice that
dissolves the soft parts of the insect.
Hardiness zone 11, (4°C/40°F) in Winter. The Byblis
experiences dry Summer dormancy, but this is not
necessary in cultivation. It grows normally in the wet
season, and comes back from seeds the next. Best grown
under indirect or artifical light. The Rainbow plant does
best best in tropical climates, but its annual nature
allows you to grow it during any span of several months
of warm weather.
This is certainly the easiest plant of these to grow
because its seeds germinate and grow in any medium
without any special treatment. Use a 50/50 sand/peat moss
mix in a deep pot because the plants live longer, in
smaller pots they tend to be annuals. In big pots they
also branch more to make a bushy plant, especially if
just a few plants are grown in a pot. Keep the soil damp
but not permanently waterlogged. Use the tray method for
watering, allow all the water to evaporate from the tray
before replenishing.
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