Sundews   GENUS Drosera

Drosera intermedia

All sundew species show tentacle movement to entrap their prey. Many sundews (but not all) also fold their leaves to secure the large prey. Depending on the species and also on the drowing condition of he plants, the leaf folding can be rather swift. On this hot summer day, a leaf of D. intermedia showed a quick reaction to a small fly landed on its tentacle-covered leaf surface. In a matter of a few minutes, the contact stimulation from the fly caused neighboring tentacles to bend toward the prey. In a matter of 10 minutes, the leaf started to fold. Within half an hour of landing, the fly was helplessly pressed against the digestive glands on the leaf surface.

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