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Cape sundew

Scientific Name: Drosera capensis

Family: Droseraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb, Subshrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Drosera capensis: The Cape Sundew

Drosera capensis, commonly known as the Cape sundew, is a fascinating carnivorous plant prized for its ease of cultivation and unique insect-trapping abilities.

Considerations for Pets

  • The Cape sundew traps insects using sticky sap on its leaves.

Considerations for Children

  • The Cape sundew traps insects using sticky sap on its leaves.
  • The plant features long, spatula-shaped leaves which can curl around objects.
  • Tall flower stalks are produced.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Drosera capensis
  • Common Name: Cape sundew
  • Kingdom: Plantae (implied from context)
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Synonym: Listed as "-" in the provided text
  • Drosera (Sundew)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Cape region of South Africa, specifically the southwestern Cape.
  • Found in marshy areas and bogs.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Small, rosette-forming perennial.
  • Linear leaves, up to 2 inches long.
  • Possesses long, spatula-shaped leaves covered in glandular hairs that secrete a sticky sap to trap insects.
  • Fast-growing.

Ecological Role

  • Carnivorous plant, trapping and digesting insects for nutrients.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Traps insects, including flies and small flying bugs, using its sticky stems.
  • May be susceptible to infestations by small white insects.

Quirky Facts

  • The "Alba" variety is prized for its lack of coloration other than green chlorophyll.
  • Can become a "weed" in sundew collections due to copious seed production.
  • Doesn't need a dormancy period, and can be kept on a sunny windowsill.

Further Information

  • Encyclopaedia Britannica
  • Cobraplant.com
  • California Carnivores
  • Botanical Society of South Africa
  • Cape Bird Club
  • Entomological Society of South Africa