Sundew, Roundleaf sundew
Drosera rotundifolia
Family: Droseraceae
What it is like
Drosera rotundifolia is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 0.1
Where it is found
Wet and moist places in poor peaty soils, occasionally forming a floating fringe on small ponds.
Europe, including Britain but excluding he Mediterranean, N. Asia, N. America..
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
The juice of the plant is used to curdle plant milks. You heat the milk and the leaves together in order to make the milk curdle.
Curdling agent: used to curdle soya milk in making cheese.
Medicine
Rating: 3
The sundew has a long history of herbal use, having been popular for its fortifying and aphrodisiac effects. It relaxes the muscles of the respiratory tract, easing breathing and relieving wheezing and so is of great value in the treatment of various chest complaints. The plant has become quite rare and so it should not be harvested from the wild. The flowering plant is antibacterial, antibiotic, antispasmodic, antitussive, demulcent, expectorant and hypoglycaemic. The plant is used with advantage in the treatment of whooping cough, exerting a peculiar action on the respiratory organs. It is also used in the treatment of incipient phthisis, chronic bronchitis and asthma. Externally, it has been used to treat corns, warts and bunions.The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use. Use with caution. Internal use of this herb causes a harmless colouring of the urine. An extract of the plant contains plumbagin, which is antibiotic against a wide range of pathogens. Because of their protein digesting enzymes, the leaf juice has been used in the treatment of warts and corns. The entire fresh plant, harvested when it is starting to flower, is used to make a homeopathic remedy. It is used mainly in the treatment of coughs and is specific for whooping cough.
Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.
Antibiotic: An agent that inhibits or destroys a living organism. It usually refers to bacteria or other micro-organisms and is probably synonymous with Antibacterial
Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
Demulcent: Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
Homeopathy: A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
Hypoglycaemic: Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.
Warts: Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.
Other
Rating:
Substances in the plant are used to curb the growth of bacteria.
Fungicide: Arrests the growth of, or kills, fungi.
How it is grown
Prefers a sandy peaty soil, succeeding in poor soils and bogs. Requires a sunny position. An insectivorous plant, it can survive in nitrogen poor soils because it gets the nutrients it needs from insects. The upper surfaces of leaves are covered with hairs that secrete a sweet sticky substance.This attracts insects, which become smeared with it and unable to escape - the plant then exudes a digestive fluid that enables it to absorb most of the insect into its system.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown thinly as soon as it is ripe into pots of a free-draining soil with some charcoal added and with a layer of finely chopped sphagnum moss on top. Surface sow and keep the compost moist. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 20°c. Grow the plants on in the pots for their first growing season, making sure that the soil does not become dry. Divide the plants in the autumn, grow them on in the greenhouse for the winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring.
Best place to grow: Pond; Bog Garden;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 5-9
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist, wet