Sundew

Sundew

　　　Sundews are a fascinating group of carnivorous plants. They mostly grow in low-lying mountain foothill areas, marshlands, and wet meadows, and most are small perennial herbaceous plants. The sundew family consists of four genera, with about 90 species in the genus Drosera. Sundews are generally distributed in tropical and temperate regions, with more than half found in Australia, and there are six species in China.

　　Sundews are passive-trapping carnivorous plants and can be divided into round-leafed sundews and long-leafed sundews based on the shape of their leaves.

　　One type of round-leafed sundew is called dewflower, a small perennial herb with clustered leaves that spread out radially. On those round leaves are over 200 tentacle-like hairs, varying in length—longer around the edges and shorter in the center—forming a small concave trap. At the tip of each hair is a pinkish bead that secretes a layer of sticky fluid, making them look like sparkling red “dewdrops.” These “dewdrops” are not only brightly colored but also emit a sweet fragrance to lure insects.