Droseras, Commonly called as Sundews.They
have gummy tentacles which attracts the insects by their bright colour
and smell. Sundew is named because of the dew drops at the end of their
tentacles which glitter when exposed to sunlight. They primarily grow on
acidic bogs and moist sandy areas.
How does it captures its prey?
Once an insect lands on the leaf, the
tentacles begin to wrap around the prey and the Sundew produces more
digestive fluid. More tentacles wrap around the bug, and the digestive
process begins. Within hours the Sundew has ingested its catch, leaving
only the skeletal remains. Sundews have one of the more powerful
digestive systems in the carnivorous plant world.
This video shows a Drosera plant trapping a midge with its mobile tenticles and rolling its leaf.
The researchers have found that the
secret of the quick tentacles involves the releasing of pent-up
hydraulic pressure in a sudden burst, and it happens fast.The sundew
takes about 75 milliseconds to capture its prey with snap tentacles.
These snap tentacles are one-shot weapons.Once they capture a prey,
these tentacles break off.The sundew grows fast, developing new leaves
every three to four days, so losing a snap tentacle does not affect the
plant.
Medicinal uses of the sundew:
These sundews provide an effective remedy
for respiratory ailments and chest problems including coughs,
asthma,woophing cough, arteriosclerosis and bronchitis.The plant
contains an antibiotic substance that, in pure form, is effective
against Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Pneumococcus. In European
folk medicine, the fresh juice is used for warts and corns, and is taken
internally as an aphrodisiac.
References:
http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Sundew.html
http://www.livescience.com/23488-carnivorous-plants-sundew-tentacles-prey.html
http://www.gublers.com/Pages/Carnivorous%20Tabs/sundew.html
To be Continued…
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