Drosera capensis
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| Drosera capensis L. (1753) |
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Drosera capensis, commonly known as the cape sundew, is a carnivorous plant in the family Droseraceae. Like Drosera aliciae (the Alice sundew), it is native to the Cape of South Africa, and, due to its size, ease of growth, and the copious amounts of seed it produces, has become one of the most common sundews in cultivation. D. capensis produces strap-like leaves, up to 15 cm long and 1 cm wide, which, as in all sundews, are covered in brightly coloured tentacles which secrete a sticky mucilage that traps insects. When insects are first trapped, the leaves roll lengthwise by thigmotropism, which aids digestion by bringing more digestive glands in contact with the prey item. The plant has a tendency to retain the dead leaves of previous seasons, and the main stem of the plant can become quite long and woody with time.
In early summer, D. capensis produces small, five-petalled pink flowers at the end of scapes which can be up to 30 cm tall. The plant self-pollinates upon closing and produces copious quantities of very small, spindle-shaped seeds, which are released from the capsules that form when the flower has died. Under horticultural conditions, carnivorous plant enthusiasts find that these seeds have a tendency to find their way into neighbouring plant pots where they germinate readily, giving D. capensis a reputation as a plant that is just a little too easy to grow.
