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Loazia, F - Drosera capensis

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years ago
Drosera Capensis
The Cape Sundew
 
 
About the Plant
The Cape Sundew is a perennial plant. Its leaves are covered with trichomes, which are dense hairs that secrete a sticky substance to attract insects. Its leaves are about two and a half inches long and tapered toward the base. The Cape Sundew is said to be very easy to grow. Drosera Capensis is unique because it is carnivorous. Just like the more common, venus flytrap, Drosera Capensis traps and digests insects. The Cape Sundews flowers, like all Sundews, are quite a distance from the leaves by a long stem. Originally this was thought to be an adaptation to avoid trapping potential pollinators, but a recent study showed that Drosera attracts certain types of pollinators and prey, with little or no overlap. Its flowers react to light intensity, most of the time only opening in direct sunlight. It is also helitropic, which means moving in response to the suns position in the sky.
Reproduction
Many species of Sundews self pollinate upon the flower closing.
Habitat
 
Drosera Capensis is native to the cape region of South Africa. Sundews usually grow in seasonally moist areas with acidic soils and lots of light. Typical habitats are bogs, fens, swamps, and marshes. Often Sundews can be seen growing in association with sphagnum moss, which uses up nutrients and makes the soil acidic, since sundews do not rely on soil bound nutrients, they can flourish near this moss, where other species would usually out compete them.
 
Distribution of Drosera
 
Conservation
Although none of the Drosera are federally protected, all are listed as threatened or endangered in some states. Many of the remaining native populations live on protected lands, such as national parks or wildlife preserves. Drosera species are protected by law in European countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, France, and Bulgaria. The largest threat to this species is development projects and draining of bogs for agricultural use. Re-introduction is near to impossible.
Interesting Facts
The Sundew exhibits thigmotropism, which means it moves in response to something. The Sundew rolls length wise around a trapped insect. Sundews are sometimes used medicinally. There are several medicinally active compounds such as flavinoids, quinones, rossoliside, and other constituents such as carotenoids, plant acids, resin, tannins and ascorbic acid. Sundews have been used in Europe for coughs. Sundew tea was especially recommended for dry coughs, whopping cough, bronchitis, bronchial cramps, and asthma. Studies show that Drosera actually exhibits antitussive (cough suppressant) properties. Sundews have also been used to strengthen the heart and as an aphrodisiac. It is also used to treat sunburn, and prevent freckles. The sundew is still used today in nearly 200 or 300 registered medications. Most commonly Drosera is used to treat asthma, coughs, lung infections and stomach ulcers. Most of these medications typically use the roots, flowers, and fruit like capsules. Most species while because of their carnivorous nature are used as ornamental plants, are unavailable commercially. Drosera Capensis is one of the most commonly commercially sold Drosera. Drosera Capensis is also used to make a Sundew liquer using fresh leaves from the plant.
 
 Here is a video of Drosera Capensis in action!
 
 
 
 

 

Blake Loaiza

Dr. Kim Brown

PBIO 209

3-6-2008

Drosera Capensis; The Cape Sundew

 

            The Cape Sundew is a perennial plant. It is a thigmotropic, which means it moves in response to something, something usually being an insect. Like the more well known thigmotropic, venus 

flytrap, the Cape Sundew is carnivorous. Insects are attracted to this plant via trichomes. Trichomes are dense hairs that cover the leaves of the Sundew. The trichomes secrete a sticky substance, which 

is what attracts the insects. When the insect lands on the leaves, the plant rolls its leaves length wise around the insect. Its leaves are about two and a half inches long and tapered toward the base.

 The Sundews flower is located quite a distance from the leaves, held by a long stem. This was originally thought to be a precaution to avoid trapping potential pollinators, but recent study shows that Drosera attracts particular pollinators and prey, with little or no overlap. It is now believed they are held at a distance so they will be more noticeable to pollinators. The flowers are generally pink or white. The Sundews flowers react to light intensity, and usually only open in direct sunlight. It is also helitropic, which means it moves in response to the suns position in the sky. The roots of the Sundew serve mainly to soak up water and as an anchor. They have little to no use for nutrient uptake since the plant is carnivorous and receives very little nutrients from the soil.

            Drosera Capensis is native to the cape region of South Africa. The Cape Sundew is found most commonly in seasonally moist areas with acidic soils and lots of sunlight. Sundews are commonly seen growing in association with Sphagnum Moss. Sphagnum Moss uses up most of the soils nutrients making it very acidic. Since Sundews do not rely on soil bound nutrients, they flourish near this moss, giving it little competition.

            Although none of the Drosera are federally protected, most are listed as threatened or endangered. Many of the remaining native populations live on protected lands such as national parks, or wildlife preserves. Drosera species are protected in many European countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, France, and Bulgaria. The largest threat to this species is development projects and draining of bogs for agricultural use. Re-introduction of this plant is near to impossible.

            Drosera Capensis is one of the few Sundews sold commercially. Most, even though desired greatly due to their carnivorous nature, are unavailable commercially. Besides as an ornamental plant the Sundew is also used medicinally. There are several medicinally active compounds that are in sundews such as falvinoids, quinones, rossoliside, and other constituents such as carotenoids, plant acids, resin, tannins, and ascorbic acid. Sundews are used medicinally most commonly for coughs. Sundew tea was once especially recommended for dry coughs, whooping cough, bronchitis, bronchial cramps, and asthma. Studies show that Drosera actually exhibits antitussive (cough suppressant) properties. Sundews have also been used to strengthen the heart and as an aphrodisiac. It is also used to treat sunburn, and prevent freckles. The sundew is still used today in nearly 200 or 300 registered medications. Most commonly Drosera is used to treat asthma, coughs, lung infections and stomach ulcers.  Most of these medications typically use the roots, flowers, and fruit like capsules. Drosera Capensis is also used to make a Sundew liquer using fresh leaves from the plant.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Bibliography
Boyden, Thomas. "Drosera Capensis." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. 11 Feb. 2008 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/art-8469/An-active-trap-of-the-sundew-Sensitive-tentacles-topped-with>.
Lemke, Cal. "Drosera Capensis." Cal's Plant of the Week. Apr. 2004. University of Oklahoma Department of Botany and Microbiology. 11 Feb. 2008 <http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week255.shtml>.
"Sundew." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, Free Encyclopedia. 11 Feb. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundew>.
 

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