Cape Sundew
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Cape sundew ( Drosera capensis ) |
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| Drosera capensis | ||||||||||||
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The Cape sundew ( Drosera capensis ) is a carnivorous plant of the genus sundew (Drosera) within the family of the sundew plants (Droseraceae).
description
The Cape sundew is a perennial , herbaceous plant . It forms a rosette with a diameter of 18 to 25 cm and is characterized by numerous, reddish glandular mergences on 7 cm long and 5 mm wide, oblong catch leaves , from the heads of which catch mucus is secreted.
The plant blooms in December / January with up to 50 pale violet, 2 cm large flowers that sit on up to 35 cm high racemose inflorescences. The flowers are self-pollinating and produce numerous, dusty, black seeds. The elongated seeds are approximately 0.75 × 0.1 millimeters in size.
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 40.
distribution
Cape sundew is native to swamps and lakes in southwestern South Africa. The plant appreciates full sun locations on nutrient-poor, waterlogged and lime-free soils.
Catching prey
Drosera capensis catches its prey by attracting it with the iridescent digestive secretion that is produced on the tentacles of the leaves. On the one hand, the secretion acts as an optical signal because it shines in the sun and the red tip of the tentacle shimmers through, and on the other hand, it is also a chemical attractant that attracts insects. If a victim has got caught in the secretion of the tentacles, then all the tentacles in the vicinity of the victim align themselves with it until at some point the whole leaf has wrapped around the animal. With the help of the digestive secretion , the insect is now broken down until only the chitin shell remains. The nutrients are absorbed via the red tentacle tips, where the secretion itself is also produced. If the victim is decomposed to such an extent that the plant cannot gain any further nutrients, the leaf and the tentacles return to their original position.
etymology
The botanical species name capensis , like the German name, refers to its South African origin, it is a floral element of the Capensis .
use
Along with the Venus flytrap, the Cape Sundew is probably the most commercially successful carnivorous plant. In addition to various natural forms, for example with dark red or particularly wide leaves, there is also a form that was created in culture. This variety is called Drosera capensis 'Albino' and is often available in stores as "alba" or "white flower". It remains completely green even under strong sunlight and the glue glands on the leaves are completely white like the flowers.
Individual evidence
- ^ Drosera capensis at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
- ↑ International Carnivorous Plant Society CP Names Database. Retrieved August 18, 2018 .
