They say, don’t put your trust on anyone because people can go till any extent to survive in this world. As much as you thought this belief pertains only to humans, there are plants that are no exceptions. If you thought big hungry plants are restricted to only sci-fi movies, then you have got to read about these killer carnivorous plant species. Sundew plants are legendary plants known for making predatory maneuvers for survival.
Drosera as they are scientifically known has about 130 species all over the world. Its greatest concentration is in South Africa and Australia. The name sundew is derived from the fact that the tips of their tentacles are made of gel like substance, called mucilage that likens itself to morning dew glistening in the sun. They can trap and digest insects to attain extra nutrients, such as nitrogen. Feeding on them helps sundews to survive in the most nutrient-depleted soils and rocky areas and meet their nutritional needs. They are not adept in absorbing nutrients through roots which makes them rely more on catching their prey. They produce digestive enzymes which effectively break down the exoskeleton of insects and arthropods.
For these carnivorous plants, luring their prey is not a difficult task. They entice the animals towards it by giving off sweet scents. Their colors range from perky pinks, rosy reds, bright purples, upbeat oranges and divine whites. The animals get attracted for the bright colored sundew flowers and its nectar that is found on its leaves. As soon as an insect is tempted to touch the area near the leaves and take a sip, the fringe of spiky hair found on leaves quickly shut trapping the prey inside and making its escape impossible. This process eventually turns the animal into a liquid that the plant later uses to feed itself. Their tentacles can move four times faster than the blink of an eye.
See this video to get a more detailed spectacle of their eating strategy.
Their seeds have the ability to develop into new plants every year. It’s not uncommon to see them growing at the backyards of houses as they grow just about anywhere, specifically in warm conditions. Some stay low to the ground and attract crawling insects, while some sundew plants grow high up to catch insects that fly, so in any case insects are not spared.
They have the potential to produce fresh leaves every few days, so there is always a new set of trap ready for unsuspecting prey. These plants go through a period of dormancy during cold months which means their growth considerably stops and remains in a state of rest until better growing conditions return that is during spring.
After reading this, if you still think they are of no good, then think again!
In some places, they are used as insect control to control the growth of fungus gnats and fruit flies.
Also they are being used as an herbal medicine in present times to alleviate coughs. It attributes in relieving throat irritation and also helps in treating gastric disorders. So if you are taking them home, rest assured that you have a remedy for your day-to-day health problems and you don’t have to worry about bugs anymore!