Description
This tufted grass-like plant (Stylidium graminifolium) is found in southeastern Australia from southern Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania.
A perennial herbivorous plant, it grows in a cluster of long, grass like leaves from which a 15 – 90 cm ‘scape’ or stem emerges. It is on this scape that unbranched, butterfly shaped pale pink/white flowers emerge.
The flowers have 5 petals, 4 of which form the shape and a 5th remains hidden behind a sprung stamen that deposits pollen onto feeding insects when triggered.
These flowers are also capable of trapping insects by using a thick gluey substance called mucilage. Once stuck the plant is able to break down the animal and digest the nutrients, meaning researchers consider the plant to be carnivorous or possibly protocarnivorous.
Distribution
The natural distribution of the Grass Trigger Plant suggests its preferred habitat is in drier, nutrient poor conditions.
Propagation
Propagation is generally successful via seed commercially sourced. Harvested seed germination can be more difficult with some plants preferring smoking or heat treatments which can simulate bushfire, however this is not always the case. More advanced plant clumps can sometimes be divided and replanted with success
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2910974
