Thilo Krueger: How citizen scientists helped in tripling the species number of the Drosera microphylla complex

Comparison flower montage showing all nine species of the Drosera microphylla complex. (Photo supplied: T. Krueger)

Thilo Krueger is a PhD candidate and researcher at Curtin University and his presentation will focus on the work being undertaken on the Drosera microphylla complex.

The Drosera microphylla complex is a group of closely related carnivorous plants from southwest-Australia that produce a stunning diversity of different flower colours. A recent taxonomic revision of this complex, which was enabled by crucial contributions by citizen scientists and social media, established that this complex comprises nine distinct species, three times the number previously recognised. Two of these new species were re-discovered in the Wildflower Society’s Facebook group almost 170 years after they were collected by Western Australia’s first resident botanist James Drummond. Thilo’s presentation will introduce all nine species of the complex with numerous pictures and information on how to find and identify them.

Newly described Drosera macropetala species. (Photo supplied: T. Krueger)