Insectivorous Plant – Drosera Sundew

Nov 232011

This little insectivorous plant is found growing in muddy edges of ponds, bogs and rivers, where the soil is peaty.It is a small herbaceous, perennial, aquatic plant, with short and slender fibrous root. Their leaves are orbicular on long stalks, depressed, Iying flat on ground and have on upper surface long red viscid hairs, each having a small gland at top, containing a fluid, which looks like a dewdrop, hence its name ” Sundews”.

Drosera - Sundew

Drosera (Sundew)

These hairs are very sensitive, they curve inward slowly and catch any insects which alight on them; the fluid on the points also retains them. After an insect has been caught, the glandular heads secrete a digestive fluid which dissolves all that can be absorbed from the insect. It has been noted that secretion does not take place when inorganic substances are imprisoned.

Drosera - Sundew

Drosera (Sundew)

The hairs are stalked glands and produce digestive juices that decompose the trapped prey. These digestive enzymes, including protease and phosphatase, increase in production once a prey has been captured.

Drosera - Sundew

Drosera with trapped insect

This plant plays an important role in medicines & certain species of these plants are used for curing Lung related diseases like asthma & chronic bronchitis.