Sundew Plant
Sundew plant
Sundew are a kind of carnivorous plant. The leaves of sundews are covered with "tentacles". sundew is found throughout all parts of the world. Its greatest concentrations are in Australia and South Africa, making them the largest group of carnivorous plants.
They have a long-ish head that's parallel to the ground with small sticky red balls. The insect sticks to the balls and the head curls up to eat it. Besides those there are also some ones in which the heads are the shape of ping-pong rackets.
When we think of a carnivorous meat eating species a plant isn't at all what you might expect however, in the case of the Sundew thats exactly what it is. Sundews have evolved to thrive in northern bogs, moist areas of generally poor soil. In these habitats where nutrients are lacking, insects on the other hand are quite common and amazingly, on the menu. In my opinion this has to be one of the most fascinating examples of the adaptability of the natural world. The Sundew is the last place a fly will ever feed when attracted to the red coloration of the pant as well as the sweet tasting beads of liquid at the end of the hair-like bristles. Call it a "fatal attraction" Once trapped in the sticky beads, struggling only assists the plant as the leaf curls around its prey sealing its fate. What an amazing species!
The carnivorous sundew plant, botanical name Drosera, has about 130 species. All of the species of the sundew plant are beautiful and many look like fireworks, but they are deadly to the insects that fly near to them. You can see the beauty of these plants in the many sundew plant pictures around the internet or in books about carnivorous plants at the library.
One thing that all carnivorous sundew plants do have is the gel like substance at the tips of the tentacles that cover the leaves. This gel is a sticky substance that the insects that fly too near the plant get stuck on. The plant can then eat it.
The many species of the sundew plant can
Sundew are a kind of carnivorous plant. The leaves of sundews are covered with "tentacles". sundew is found throughout all parts of the world. Its greatest concentrations are in Australia and South Africa, making them the largest group of carnivorous plants.
They have a long-ish head that's parallel to the ground with small sticky red balls. The insect sticks to the balls and the head curls up to eat it. Besides those there are also some ones in which the heads are the shape of ping-pong rackets.
When we think of a carnivorous meat eating species a plant isn't at all what you might expect however, in the case of the Sundew thats exactly what it is. Sundews have evolved to thrive in northern bogs, moist areas of generally poor soil. In these habitats where nutrients are lacking, insects on the other hand are quite common and amazingly, on the menu. In my opinion this has to be one of the most fascinating examples of the adaptability of the natural world. The Sundew is the last place a fly will ever feed when attracted to the red coloration of the pant as well as the sweet tasting beads of liquid at the end of the hair-like bristles. Call it a "fatal attraction" Once trapped in the sticky beads, struggling only assists the plant as the leaf curls around its prey sealing its fate. What an amazing species!
The carnivorous sundew plant, botanical name Drosera, has about 130 species. All of the species of the sundew plant are beautiful and many look like fireworks, but they are deadly to the insects that fly near to them. You can see the beauty of these plants in the many sundew plant pictures around the internet or in books about carnivorous plants at the library.
One thing that all carnivorous sundew plants do have is the gel like substance at the tips of the tentacles that cover the leaves. This gel is a sticky substance that the insects that fly too near the plant get stuck on. The plant can then eat it.
The many species of the sundew plant can