Plants

Sundews

Sundews (Drosera spp.)

The sundews are a group of insectivorous (insect-eating) plants occurring across raised and blanket bogs. They consist of a rosette of leaves at the base with a central stem, on top of which the delicate white flowers develop in July and August. The leaves are covered in hairs, which secrete a sticky liquid. This glue traps any small insects landing on the leaves. Over time the leaf closes in on its catch and releases enzymes which digests the fleshy parts of the insect. This effective trapping technique gives the plant most of its nutrients, a necessary adaptation to the nutrient poor conditions. The most common species is the Round-leaved Sundew Drosera rotundifolia which is widespread, while the other two species native to Northern Ireland, Great Sundew Drosera anglica and Oblong-leaved Sundew Drosera intermedia are less abundant.

Click here to view a distribution map of the Sundews in Northern Ireland.