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Gday from Western Australia

Wildflowers of Western Australia

Welcome to the amazing world of Triggerplants

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Click on the images for BIG pictures, then click the start icon to start Slideshow.

Stylidium diuroides
Click on image

A triggerplant has a spring-loaded touch-sensitive column hidden under the petals which flicks over when an insect lands on the flower for a feed of nectar.

At the end of this column is the male and female parts of the flower. (anther and stigma)

This action either deposits or collects pollen depending on the cycle of the plant.

Donkey Triggerplant - Stylidium diuroides

Bee Triggered
Bee Bop

The pollen filled anthers (male) appears first on the young flower, then as it matures the sticky stigma (female) takes over and is ready to collect pollen. This cycle prevents self pollination.

Most of the bees I have seen visiting these flowers have a worn spot on their back where they have been repeatedly whacked by the column.

More bee pics 3a | 3a | 3a

Stylidium  affine
Queen

The small lobes in the centre of this beautiful Queen Triggerplant prevents access to the nectar unless the insect lands on the lower petals.

The clever design of the flower forces the insect to land on the same position each time.

Queen Triggerplant - Stylidium affine

Stylidium bulbiferum
Circus

These plants are amazingly precise.

To avoid producing hybrids, different species of triggerplants have various shape and lengths of the column, which can strike from under, over or even from the side.

Therefore an insect visiting two species can be struck at different locations on the body.

Circus Triggerplant - Stylidium bulbiferum

Stylidium calcaratum
Book

These triggerplants strike the insect on the underside of the abdomen like "a punch in the guts". oh!

So named because the flower closes like a book at night or in cold weather.

Book Triggerplant - Stylidium calcaratum

triggerplant
Mutants

99% of triggerplants have two pairs of petals. smile

I have photographed two, three and five petalled varieties but they are very rare.

"Mouse over" the image to see a three petal example.

Stylidium  dielsianum
Tangle

After the column has been triggered it gradually resets, usually within an hour, ready to assault another innocent insect looking for nectar or pollen.

Tangle Triggerplant - Stylidium dielsianum

white butterfly
Butterfly

About 70% of the world's 250+ known species of stylidium occur only in the South-West of Western Australia, highlighting this area as the major center of triggerplant evolution.

Stylidium is the fifth largest genus in Australia.

Click on this image to see the trigger action in more detail.

White Butterfly Triggerplant - Stylidium hispidum

Stylidium hispidum
Meat Eater

Stylidium are believed to be carnivorous (or protocarnivorous).

It has been reported that the numerous sticky glands on the flowering parts of triggerplants secrete enzymes to trap and digest tiny insects.

If this proves to be true, the addition of this genus would almost double the number of known carnivorous plants.

Stylidium schoenoides
Cow Kicks

The largest of all triggerplants and named for the powerful 'kick' when triggered.

These are only 5cm (2in) tip to tip, so most stylidium flowers are very small.

Small children are advised not to touch these flowers. wink

Cow Kick - Stylidium schoenoides

Stylidium brunonianum
Pink Fountain

Class: Gymnospermae

Subclass: Dicotyledonae

Superorder: Asteridae

Order: Campanulales

Family: Stylidiaceae

Pink Fountain Triggerplant - Stylidium brunonianum

Poised to strike
Mamba

The innocence of the flower belies the mamba-shaped head of the column, ready to strike and just as fast.

Click on the image to see this in detail.

Pink Fountain Triggerplant

gorge
Gorge

Triggerplants seem to be everywhere.

This one was found at the bottom of a 100 metre deep gorge in central Western Australia.

Only two petals on this one.

Stylidium breviscapum
Boomerang

Boomerang Triggerplant - Stylidium breviscapum

sprinkle
A Sprinkle

For more detailed information check out the Wikipedia Triggerplant page.

Reed Triggerplant
Reed

If you want to trigger the column just lightly touch the centre of the flower with a small stick.

Reed Triggerplant - Stylidium junceum

Stylidium udusicola
Triggerplant

Stylidium udusicola

Comments

  1. Bev Campbell

    wow what a wonderful plant. Thank you for sharing these photos with us, it is a marvelous plant species.
    if they are available commercially, the would sell fast
    thank you again for allowing us to view your photos


  2. A. Roguenant & A. Raynal

    Splendid pictures, and so interesting from a biological point of view !
    We enjoyed meeting these plants in the wild, in Australia.
    Congratulations.

    from France


  3. Cassie

    Those images are stunning, very beautiful photography. I came here looking for information on their supposed carnivorous nature, I was reading that they have stalked mucous glands on them that secrete digestive enzymes, but research has not been done to see if they actually absorb nutrients.
    Australia is full of so many interesting plants, I love this country.
    Anyway, if I go on a holiday to WA, I will definatly keep an eye out for these interesting plants. Since I'm not, I am going to search for them in my local nurseries. Keep up the good photography.


  4. Ryan

    I absolutely love your photography of the triggerplants. Great material! I've never seen these plants in such detail before. Inclusion of wider-angle shots showing their habitat is also very nice to see, especially for those of us that admire these plants far from their native range. Again, wonderful job on these photos here. I'm certainly jealous of your talents.


  5. Liesl

    This stunning pictures made my day thankyou for the wonderful experience WELL DONE !!!!!!!


  6. Jill

    In the bush at the end of our street we have these beautiful little plants grow along the either side of the fire break in profusion. The type I see look like the 'book' except they are pale pink. I have a nice photograph of them. They are intriguing indeed and the trigger does snap over fast and can hold onto a piece of grass quite easily. I just bought a stylidium palgarup for my garden and was looking for more information on this particular plant, but I have found it very hard to come by.


  7. meg

    Hi this was a really good site, I'm from WA, but there's things on here that I've never seen!


  8. Muggins

    It is incredible that a plant can do this. I especially like the picture of the bee being hit on the back - wonderful!


  9. Jarve

    It boggles the mind to think how these plants evolved. Excellent presentation.


  10. Caerdrioia

    I had never seen these beautiful plants before. Nature is endlessly amazing!


  11. RobDawson

    Everytime I see something amazing like this for the first time, I'm reminded that however much you know there is always something new and exciting just around the corner.


  12. apodda

    Fascinating plants!


  13. orca-wild

    The natural world still beats human achievement in my books.


  14. Greg Bourke

    Hi Ray, I assume it's Ray. Mate I just wanted to say the pics are fantastic. The website layout is awesome and the Stylidium shots are perfect!

    I am collector of Carnivorous plants and Stylidiums and make the journey to WA as often as I can. I photograph everything I see especially the very small! I edit for a journal (Carniflora Australis) on Carnivorous plants and also for the International Triggerplant Society. I am also attempting to write books on WAs weird and wonderful plants although I'll probably die before I complete them.

    Anyway, I wish I lived in WA

    Regards
    Greg


  15. Maggie

    These are amazing! You have such wonderful pictures of these remarkable plants. I hope one day to travel to Australia to see these - moving flowers.


  16. sarah

    A very good site. I am having to study some of the reproduction strategies of WA flora and your pictures provided me with a good close up look at the flowers of these amazing species! Thanks... and awesome photography!


  17. Cristiano Marques

    Wonderful plants, I have a S. graminifolium and S. amoenum, now I'm waiting for flowers.


  18. sam

    Hi there..nice website :)


  19. Harry

    I had no idea that these even existed and I love the weird and unusual. Thanks for a great site!



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