Dribs and Drabs of 2014

By RodgerEvans01

Sun Dew

This is a single, multi-lobed leaf from a species (can't remember the name...) of Drosera (common names are sundews). Sundews are one of several groups of plants that are carnivorous.

These plants grow in areas of low nutrients, such as acidic bogs, and therefore need to get nutrients from alternate sources - sugar searching insects. The large hairs have a glob of sugary secretion at their tip. Insects are attracted to the droplets, get entangled in the hairs, and ultimately get wrapped up in the lobes of the leaf. Smaller, shorter red hairs near the surface of the leaf secrete enzymes that break down the insect's body so that the nutrients can be absorbed by specialized cells on the leaf surface.

Beautiful, but deadly if you're an insect in search of sugar.

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