What is Drosera?

Drosera, also known as sundew, is a genus of carnivorous plants that include about 188 known species. Its name is derived from the physical characteristics of its glandular leaf that seemingly glisten like dew in the sun. Sundews can grow in highly humid and sandy soil, even when the soil is lacking in organic nitrogen and phosphorus. To compensate for the lack of nutrients, sundews are known to capture and digest insects by utilizing the surfaces of their leaves, which are composed of mucilaginous glands.

Sundews act like sticky flypaper. They have long, stimulated tentacles on their leaves which easily lure insects. As soon as their prey is captured, the leaf slowly coils around it, which can take minutes or even hours. The tentacles of a Drosera can bend in any direction, but whenever the leaf catches an insect, the tentacles bend the leaf inwards.

The tentacles of a Drosera produce digestive juices that aid in the decomposition of their captured prey. These digestive enzymes include protease and phosphatase, which gradually increase in concentration once the tentacles capture an insect to digest. Other than that, the glands on the tentacles produce attractive nectar and adhesive compounds that can make the insect stick to the leaf until it completely closes down on the prey.

Carnivorous plants such as Drosera need insects to compensate for their poor mineral nutrition. This is because the genus lacks the capacity to obtain such nutrients from the soil where it grows. To survive, they have evolved into carnivorous plants specializing in nutrient intake from above the soil. The pygmy sundew, for example, lacks nitrate reductase, which is a plant enzyme that aids in the digestion of earth-bound nitrates.

As herbaceous plants that are known to achieve a lifespan of up to 50 years, species that belong to the Drosera genus are also considered perennial plants. Some species grow vertically, while the viney and rosette species tend to hug the ground. Sundews can be found in almost every continent except for Antartica.

In tropical countries, some species of Drosera grow all-year-round, much like the pygmy sundews found in Australia, while others die back to their roots during the dry season and reemerge during autumn. The species that grow in cold, snowy habitats coil back to their packed buds, known as hibernacula, during the winter season. Species found in North America and Europe belong to this group.

Drosera, commonly known as the sundew, is a genus of carnivorous plants that capture and digest insects using sticky, glandular leaves. They are found globally, with a high diversity in Australia and South Africa. These plants thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic soils often in bogs, swamps, and damp heathlands.

Drosera plants have leaves covered with tentacle-like protrusions that secrete a sticky substance called mucilage. When an insect lands on the leaf, it becomes trapped by the mucilage. The leaf then slowly curls around the prey, further entangling it and allowing the plant to secrete digestive enzymes to break down the insect.

While Drosera primarily consume small insects such as flies, gnats, and mosquitoes, they can also trap larger prey depending on the species size. The nutrients obtained from their prey, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, supplement the poor mineral content of the soil in their natural habitats.

Some Drosera species are considered at risk due to habitat destruction and over-collection. For instance, Drosera filiformis is listed as threatened in some U.S. states. Conservation efforts are in place to protect these unique plants, and cultivation by enthusiasts helps reduce pressure on wild populations.

Yes, many Drosera species can be grown at home by enthusiasts. They require a sunny spot, high humidity, and must be kept in a soil mix free of nutrients. Distilled water or rainwater is preferred, as tap water can contain minerals harmful to the plants. Proper care can result in a thriving, insect-catching display.

The lifespan of Drosera plants varies by species. Many are perennial, living for several years, while others are annuals, completing their life cycle within a single year. Perennial species can live for a significant number of years under optimal conditions, with some species like Drosera capensis known to live for up to 50 years in cultivation.