The plant world is diverse and diverse. There are beautiful flowers with a terrible smell and ugly plants to ugliness, exuding wonderful aromas. In the magical realm of trees, bushes and flowers, there are many individuals that amaze the imagination with growth, the ability to adapt to environmental conditions, and the ability to survive in the jungle and in the desert.
On the globe there is a group of plants that belong to different families, but they share a common feature - they are carnivorous. They can meet in any climatic zone and on all continents except the Arctic. One of these plants is sundew.
Predatory plant sundew
There is a mysterious flower in the group of predator plants. Dewdrop is an insectivorous plant, which has 164 species. Although they can be found in any part of the globe, most grow in New Zealand and Australia. Representatives of sundews, growing in the north, are much smaller than their tropical counterparts. For example, the stalk of an Australian giant sundew can reach 60-100 cm.
Rosyanka - a charming predator
The royal African sundew can eat not only insects, but even snails, mice, frogs and toads. In European countries with a temperate climate, you can find, in addition to the usual round-leaved (drosera rotundifolia), several more species of sundew. In the Northern Hemisphere, a representative of this family with oblong leaves (drosera anglica) grows in swamps. They grow on mosses, in their absence - right on the rocks.
Structure
Dewdrop is a predator plant; in its natural habitat it can have various sizes and structure. The farther south the sundew grows, the higher and thicker its peduncle. In Australia and on the Cape of Good Hope there are individuals growing in bushes, some of which reach gigantic sizes (up to 1.5 -3 m in height). In the northern latitudes with a temperate climate, this plant is inferior in size and outwardly different from the inhabitants of the tropics.
What does a sundew look like? The structural principle of all representatives of the family sundew (Droseraceae) is the same. The leaves of the plant are collected in a basal rosette. In some species they have a rounded shape, in others - oblong. Cilia may be green, red or tan.
Pink, white or raspberry sundew flowers are quite high, thanks to long peduncles. Nature reasonably disposed, giving her such a structure.
The peculiar structure of the carnivorous plant - sundew
The buds of the plant open only for one day. So that insects can pollinate it and not fall into the trap of sticky leaves, the flower must grow taller. After pollination, boxes with small seeds are formed. The roots of the sundew are weak. Their task is to keep the flower on the ground and water it from the soil. He will receive the necessary proteins and minerals, thanks to his victims.
For example, a dwarf sundew, which ceased to produce the necessary enzymes for the extraction of salts from the soil. Not all varieties of this family have completely lost the ability to receive root nutrition.
Power way
So what is a sundew? Why does she inspire fear in everyone who has happened to see her go hunting? The name "sundew" the plant received for the similarity of shiny droplets of adhesive mass on the villi of the leaves with dew. The plant is red or green in color has leaves covered with 25 cilia on the sides and on the top of the leaf plate.
At the end, the villi have a thickening with a gland that secretes sticky mucus with a delicate sweetish aroma. Attracted by the brilliance of droplets and a pleasant smell, insects without fear sit on a leaf and bind in a sticky surface. A predatory plant immediately responds to touch.
Interesting. If an inanimate object (a dry blade of grass, garbage or a raindrop) falls on a leaf of a sundew, then it simply does not pay attention to it and does not fold. This is most likely due to the fact that the next “victim” does not move and does not resist; there is still no protein in it that a flower needs for nutrition.
It folds the sheet, trying to grab the victim with all the cilia. The more the insect resists, the denser the cilia grab it.
In droplets of a viscous liquid, where prey is completely immersed, in addition to digestive enzymes, some sundews contain paralyzing substances. Having fallen into such a trap, the victim turns into food one hundred percent. The digestion process in some species of drosery takes place in a matter of minutes, in others it lasts several days.
After the food is digested, the sheet unfolds, only the remains of an insect or animal can be seen on its surface. Enzymes involved in digestion are able to dissolve even small cartilage of an animal. From insects, only their chitinous shell remains. For some time, the leaf blade remains dry. But when drosera is hungry, “tears” will again appear on the cilia. The sundew plant again "come out" to hunt.
Rosyanka "has lunch"
Even if midges and mosquitoes will not come to the flower for a long time, the plant will not die. The source of protein food for it, as for any plant, will serve as carbon dioxide and soil rich in minerals.
Role in nature
In the wild, sundews serve as a kind of balancer that maintains a balance between flora and fauna. No one and nothing exists in this world just like that. Each living creature and inanimate object has a role to play. This happens with the drosera plant.
If woodpeckers are considered an "orderly" of trees in a forest eating harmful insects in the bark, then a sundew will destroy insects in marshy places. Southern relatives of the flower also eat larger representatives of the fauna. It all depends on good luck: the toad is trapped - the sundew was lucky. Predators also need to eat in order to survive.
The unusual structure of this flower, forming vertical rosettes, the length of which varies from 1 cm to 1-3 m. Despite the weak root system and fragile appearance, these perennials sometimes live up to 50 years. Dewdrops living in the northern latitudes with a temperate climate are at rest in winter.
Interesting! Their relatives from Australia, Argentina or Africa are active year-round. To survive the dry season, they use a tuber root to help them feed from the soil.
Types of sundews
Of carnivorous plants, sundews are the most numerous and common. Having populated the marshes of the Northern Hemisphere in America, Europe and Asia, sundews have adapted remarkably, thanks to the abundance of insects, in a damp microclimate. The lack of phosphoric, potassium and nitrogenous salts obtained by underdeveloped roots from marshy soils “forced” the plant to turn its attention to a new way of feeding: eating flies, mosquitoes, dragonflies, which are very numerous in the marshes.
Thanks to the modified leaves with villi equipped with glands, sundews learned to catch their prey and digest it through enzymes and organic acids from cilia.
Dewdrop in nature
Not only in the northern hemisphere droser lives. Not a single continent, except the Arctic, has been deprived of its attention by a sundew. It can be found in the Australian deserts and sands of Africa, in the Mexican prairies and on the mountainous slopes of the Caucasus. Since ancient times, poets and writers, musicians and artists have dedicated their works to this “charming killer”, endowing it with unprecedented fantastic qualities.
The English were used to call the round-leaved sundew the "sun dew", popularly called the flycatcher. The name "Drosera" ("Dew") was first given to the plant by the Swedish natural scientist Karl Linney. Indeed, the sheen of sticky droplets of this plant from a distance can be mistaken for dewdrops. The sight is how beautiful and bewitching, just as dangerous.
English Dewdrop
English Dewdrop (Drosera anglica) was brought from Hawaii. She found a new homeland in the Caucasus, in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, in Siberia and Central Asian countries. Often this variety of drosers can be found in Canada, the USA, the Far East, Europe and Japan.
English long-leaved sundew
It settles quite often next to the round-leaved and intermediate sundew. Favorite places of Drosera anglica are sphagnum bogs with moist sandy soil. In some areas of habitat, the plant is in danger of extinction, so it was listed in the Red Book of rare plants in Russia.
In the description of the English sundew, one can note the fact that it grows from 9 to 24 cm, has rather long leaves (9-11 cm) and white flowers. Seeds form in a box and disperse after full ripening.
Important! Despite the fact that the English sundew is a predatory and poisonous plant, it is widely used in pharmacology and folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory, sedative, antipyretic, diuretic and expectorant. The only condition for use is the use of healthy colors. Blackened plants are very toxic.
Cape sundew
Cape sundew (Drosera capensis) is one of the most beautiful representatives of the Rosyankov family. It is grown at home. The Cape sundew has a small stem and long leaves. The plant is unpretentious, with good room breeding conditions, it can bloom with white flowers all year round. Despite his small stature, only 13 cm, he has excellent dexterity.
Cape sundew - one of the most beautiful species
Capturing an insect trapped in sticky red and white cilia, a long leaf quickly rolls up.
Round-billed sundew
This plant is the most common of all carnivores in the world. Dewdrop round-leaved (drosera rotundifolia) grows on almost all continents. Most often it can be seen on peatlands. Rounded leaves with tentacle villi are located almost at the very roots. Flowering occurs in July.
Round-leaved sundew - the most common species of the Rosyanokov family on the globe
White flowers appear on 19-centimeter stems; after ripening at the end of summer, seeds in boxes form. Strange, but this predatory plant has so many affectionate names: "God" or "Solar dew", "Rosichka", "Tsar's eyes."
Alicia Rosyanka
South Africa is home to the sundew Alicia. The structure of the leaves of the flower resembles mini-plates, only with an abundance of sticky cilia. Pink flowers in the sundew Alicia grow in the form of cystiform inflorescences. An interesting way to hunt a plant for insects.
Alicia Rosyanka originally from Africa
As soon as the victim fell on the cilia, they instantly move the prey to the center of the leaf. Curling up like a roll, he begins to digest food. After the meal is complete, the leaf unfolds and after a while is again covered with fragrant adhesive tentacles.
Binata Rosyanka is two-complex
The habitat of the sundew binata (Drosera binata) is the coastal and island zones of Australia. She is famous for being the largest predator plant growing up to 60 cm in height. A two-syllable flower is called for bifurcated narrow shoots with cilia, which is uncharacteristic for sundews of the genus Lopastny.
Rosyanka swamp
Where the sundew is growing, you can find out from its name. In nature, there are several varieties of swamp dwellers. The most common are round-leaved, English and intermediate sundews. They settle on marshy soils experiencing a lack of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
The two-complex Binata sundew is the largest species of Rosiankovs
Hunting insects and eating them, they make up for the deficiency of mineral substances, tolerate frosty winters perfectly. Their kidneys can be stored in formed bags with sphagnum moss for up to five months. With the advent of the first sunlight, the first shoots make their way into the light.
Sundew Nutrition
As people from the subtropics, many varieties of sundews well take root and breed in captivity, that is, at home. Care for these plants requires special. The most interesting in this situation is the issue of nutrition. Droser can not be fed, hoping to replenish the necessary products from the soil. But then it will grow more slowly. Therefore, a weekly sundew should be given 2-3 flies, but not very large.
Growing from seed at home
If you want to grow a sundew or flytrap at home, you must first get acquainted with this type of plant. After receiving the information, you can purchase seeds in a special store, nursery or write out via the Internet. The following actions will be as follows:
- in a flower pot 10 cm high put sphagnum moss or a mixture of 70% peat, 30% sand or expanded clay, moisten well;
- make recesses in the soil and place seeds in them (the more the better);
- it is better to water the seeds in the pan;
- wait for seedlings and observe growth daily.
Sundew Nutrition
After a month, the seeds of sundew will germinate and grow.
Home Care
A homemade sundew does not require much time and attention. This is a very photophilous plant, although it lives perfectly in the shade. In the sun, its leaves are bright yellow or red, and remain green in the shade.
Watering and nutrition exercise, based on the nature of the flower. If these are Australian varieties that form tubers, then they can do without water for a long time. Most varieties prefer moist soil. The first sign of lack of moisture is the absence of droplets on the cilia. In this case, you need to immerse the flower pot in a wide container with water.
Note! The plant does not need additional top dressing. Getting the required amount of animal feed will fill the flower's nutritional needs. A sundew can be transplanted only in extreme cases, when the soil has silted up, or the soil has struck a disease.
Growing a hygrophyte plant and then caring for it is a very interesting activity. It is doubly fascinating if this plant is also a predator. Caring for a sundew at home is not very difficult, although every plant requires attention and care. Therefore, any work must be done with interest, love and soul.
