SafePlants

Pink Sundew (Drosera capillaris)

The pink sundew, scientifically known as Drosera capillaris, is a fascinating carnivorous plant with a unique way of capturing its prey. Read on to discover more about this intriguing species.

Considerations for Pets and Children

• This plant possesses sticky mucilage-tipped tentacles that attract and trap insects.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Drosera capillaris
• Common Names: Pink Sundew, Spathulate-leaved Sundew
• Family: Droseraceae (Sundew Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Subclass: Dilleniidae
• Order: Nepenthales
• Genus: Drosera L. (Sundew)
• Species: Drosera capillaris Poir.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Florida, where it is one of five native sundew species.
• Commonly found in wet flatwoods and bogs.
• Also found in other southeastern coastal plain areas, such as Pasco County, Florida and Conecuh National Forest, Alabama.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• A small, carnivorous herb.
• Forms a rosette of leaves with sticky pads that attract and trap insects.
• Flowers are white to light pink and grow in a raceme.

Quirky Facts

• The pink coloration of the plant intensifies with increased light exposure. If it doesn't receive enough light, it will appear completely green.
• Insects are attracted to the plant by the sweet, sticky mucilage on its tentacles.
• The leaves are covered in hairs that converge on any insect that is trapped.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The plant traps insects using its sticky mucilage-tipped tentacles.
• Wolf spiders have been observed in the same habitat as the pink sundew, suggesting a potential ecological interaction.

Further Information

• USF Herbarium Specimen
• Discover Life: Discover Life
• Wikimedia Commons