Round Leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)

In nature insects tend to thrive on flowers eating the leaves or taking pollen and nectar. The sundews are one of the few species to turn this around and use their attraction as a flower to snare and consume insects.

The leaves have very sticky hairs on them that any insect landing on will get stuck to, the leaves close and the plant absorbed the nutrients from its catch.

Found only on wet acid peat or in Sphagnum bogs sundews are not widespread but the Round Leaved Sundew seems to be quite common on the damp rather than wet areas of Dorset's heathland.

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