Drosera capensis

Drosera capensis is one of the most famous and most frequently cultivated carnivorous plants in the world. This type of plant belongs to the family of the Droseraceae and comes from the moist, nutrient -poor regions of South Africa, especially the capregion. Her ability to catch and digest insects with sticky fishing leaves enables her to survive in nutrient -poor soils. Due to its robustness and simple care, Drosera capensis is a popular plant in the culture of carnivorous plants.

Morphology

The plant forms a down -to -earth rosette, which consists of elongated, ruling leaves. These leaves can be up to 10 cm long and are equipped with numerous tentacles. At the tips of these tentacles there are sticky glands that serve as a fishing mechanism. The glandular drops reflect the sunlight and act on insects such as nectar drops that attract them. As soon as an insect touches the sticky drops, it sticks. Due to slow movements, the tentacles bend around the captive insect to continue to fix it.

Drosera capensis has several leaf shapes that often occur in different colors. The leaves are typically green, but they can also be reddish, especially when the plant is in light sunlight. This color is caused by anthocyan, which forms the plant as protection against intensive sunlight.

Fishing and digestive mechanism

Like many carnivorous plants, Drosera capensis has developed a specialized mechanism to gain nutrients from insects. If an insect gets into the sticky glandular drops of the plant, it is captured by the tentacle -like glandular hair. The movement of the tentacles around the insect takes several hours. During this process, the glands begin to produce digestive enzymes that dissolve the insect and release the nutrients it contains, in particular nitrogen and phosphates. These nutrients are then absorbed by the plant surface by the plant.

The digestive process usually lasts a few days, depending on the size of the insect. After digestion, only the insect's chitin armor, which is finally washed away by the wind or rain, remains.

Habitat and distribution

Drosera capensis is at home in the moist, nutrient -poor areas of the South African capregion. There it grows in sandy or peaty soils that are sour and damp. Typical locations are moor areas, the edges of swamps and river courses, where the soil remains damp all year round. These areas are known for their seasonal fluctuations in dryness and rain, which is why Drosera capensis can also tolerate a certain dryness for a short time, as long as the soil does not completely dry out.

Due to its adaptability, Drosera capensis has naturalized in many regions of the world as an ornamental plant and can be cultivated under controlled conditions. It is considered one of the most robust carnivorous plants and is often used in terrariums and plant collections.

Flower and reproduction

Drosera capensis typically blooms in spring and summer. The flower stems protrude far beyond the fishing leaves to prevent potential pollinators from being caught. The flowers are small and usually pink to violet. They open one after the other and are arranged in grapes. Each flower remains open for only one day.

Reproduction takes place both via seeds and vegetative. The seeds are tiny and are spread through the wind. They germinate quickly under suitable conditions, and the plant begins to form a fishing rosette after just a few months. Drosera capensis is self -pollinating, which means that it does not need pollinators for seed production, which contributes to the widespread distribution of the species.

Cultivation

In culture, Drosera capensis is one of the simplest and robust most robust carnivorous plants. It needs a bright location with direct sunlight and should be planted in a substrate from a peat-sand mixture. It is important that the floor always remains moist, with distilled water or rainwater being preferred, since tap water can contain too much minerals that damage the plant.

There can be no fertilizers because Drosera capensis receives the necessary nutrients from catching insects. With good care, the plant can live for many years and also develop well in a controlled environment like a terrarium.

Ecological meaning

As a carnivorous plant, Drosera capensis plays an important role in the nutrient cycle of its natural environment. Insects that are caught by the plant contribute to mineral supply and enable the plant to thrive in very nutrient -poor soils. In her home region, she contributes to regulating the insect population and is an important part of the ecosystem.