Stylidium carnosumThis is an interesting trigger plant that grows to 1metre tall. Initially it looks like a "Leek orchid" but on closer inspection you can see the 'triggers'. Flowers after a fire and never in large numbers. It is scattered over the South West of Western Australia.Photos: Fred
Stylidium hortiorum This plant was first collected in Western Australia in 1962 but not given a species name until the year 2000. It is a beautiful plant which grows in clumps to 40 cm tall.One of its special features of this species, is three mounds near its throat which shine white to attract insects for pollination.Stylidiums have a trigger which is set off by the insects as they land on the petals which act as a landing platform. The trigger pats the insect on the back, leaving pollen to be mixed with the next flower's pollen. Best viewed large
Levenhookia pauciflora"Levenhookia, also known as the styleworts, is a genus of ten recognized species in the family Stylidiaceae and is endemic to Australia. The genus is restricted to Western Australia almost exclusively with a few exceptions: L. pusilla's range extends into South Australia, L. dubia's range extends through South Australia into Victoria and New South Wales, L. sonderi is native only to Victoria, and L. chippendalei is also found in the Northern Territory.All species of Levenhookia possess a sensitive labellum that performs a similar function to the column of Stylidium species. The labellum responds to touch and enables the plants to promote cross-pollination and avoid self-pollination. Most species of Levenhookia are ephemeral plants that prefer sand heath habitat.Levenhookia species also possess glandular trichomes similar to those of its sister genus, Stylidium.
Stylidiaceae: Stylidium emarginatum Trigger plantThis is a series of two photos. This photo shows the flower from the top with its trigger set waiting for an insect to land to feed on nectar. Once the insect lands in the correct place, the sensitive trigger flies over, hitting the insect on its back, depositing pollen.The other photo shows the plant's labellum, a special part which helps to align the trigger to sit in its correct position.Size: Approx 1 cm (< 1/2 inch)Note: There are over 300 Stylidium species in Western Australia. Many of them are unnamed.
A tiny trigger plant, discovered and described by Rica Erickson in the 1950's. It wasn't seen again until 2007. I took a photo last year and we have been searching for this elusive plant this October with some success. It grows to 8cm. This photo shows three stages of the plant. Top photo as it is about to flower, middle flower has flowered and closed and the bottom photo is fully in flower.Photo: Fred
Stylidium caricifolium 0.15-0.5 m high flowering September to November in the South West of Western Australia.So pretty and just starting to flower. The trigger is set behind the flower. This plant has 4 small throat appendages with red tips and 2 large wing shaped throat appendages. I am surprised at how hairy the small ones are. Named Caricifolium for its rush like leaves. Carici = rush folium = leaves.Photos: Fred
These lovely coloured Stylidium love to grow in winter wet areas. Stylidium plants have an irritable "trigger" which moves open and below the flower until an insect lands on the petals. The "trigger" moves over and pats pollen onto the back of the insect. The insect flies onto another plant, gets another pat on the back, thus pollinating the plants. The trigger resets itself after each insect visit.Website explaining trigger plant dynamics