Drosera

Elegant plant sundew, referring to the genus Drosera, has in its population of about 150 species. Despite its innocuous appearance, sundew are predators and feed on insects attracted by the bright color and smell of plants, as well as transparent droplets on the leaves, similar to dew. In fact, from the glands sundew hairs allocated slimy substance containing the alkaloid Konin, which paralyzes the insect. When prey is caught, the leaf is rolled and begins the digestive process that takes several days, after which the list is revealed again and waits for prey. Most species of sundew are small and catch small insects, but some specimens may reach meters high and able to digest even a snail or a small frog.


In the wild sundew is found in swampy areas of the tropics to the tundra and in the subtropical areas of Australia. At present, some species of plants cultivated in the home, especially well tolerated in maintenance in the rooms Drosera alicia from South Africa, the American Drosera capillaris and Drosera capensis. In an interesting structure of the leaf, sundew have the ability to flower. Sundew flowers of various shades are usually located on a long stalk to their pollinating insects do not fall into the trap on the leaves. Interestingly, the plant can be widely used as a medicinal product, for example, feverish conditions, destruction of warts, in the case of eye diseases, as well as a diuretic and diaphoretic. Italians have always added sundew as an important ingredient in the manufacture of liquor «Rosoglio».