Round-leaved sundew

Description:

The leaves of the common sundew are arranged in a basal rosette. The upper surface of the lamina is densely covered with red glandular hairs that secrete a sticky mucilage. A typical plant has a diameter of around 3–5 cm, with a 5–25 cm tall inflorescence. The flowers grow on one side of a single slender, hairless stalk that emanates from the centre of the leaf rosette. White or pink in colour, the five-petalled flowers produce 1.0–1.5 mm, light brown, slender, tapered seeds. In the second and fourth pic I show the flower. It was difficult to focus both on the flower and the leaves since the flower stands high up in a thin stem. The last pic shows a rosette of leaves at the base of the flower stem

Habitat:

De Weerribben-Wieden National Park

Notes:

It is a carnivore plant: The plant feeds on insects, which are attracted to its bright red colour and its glistening drops of mucilage, loaded with a sugary substance, covering its leaves. It has evolved this carnivorous behaviour in response to its habitat, which is usually poor in nutrients or is so acidic, nutrient availability is severely decreased. The plant uses enzymes to dissolve the insects – which become stuck to the glandular tentacles – and extract ammonia (from proteins) and other nutrients from their bodies. The ammonia replaces the nitrogen that other plants absorb from the soil.