Drosera xerophila

 There are many Drosera species (Sundews) in the world. That is why it is so exciting when a new one is discovered and described right here in South-Africa, in the Overstrand.

All sundews are meat-eating. They catch insects with the tentacles on their leaves, immobilize them and devour them. In English they are called “Dryland sundews”; in Afrikaans “vlieëvangertjies” or “Droëland snotrosies,” both very apt.

The newly described Drosera xerophila is endemic to the coastal mountain fynbos of the Overstrand. Imagine our delight when we came upon it in our Rooiels Mountains!

It has green leaves with bright red tentacles. The leaves are spatulate (look like spoons) and lie flat on the ground, forming perfect little rosettes.

On the end of each tentacle is a gland that secretes a sticky fluid. The “dew” that glistens in the sunlight attracts insects. When the hapless insect lands on the leaf, it is trapped by the tentacles that fold around it and the insect becomes immobilized. This could take up to 30 minutes.

The glands secrete enzymes which break down the soft parts of the insect. Once the insect has been devoured, the exoskeleton is released from the Drosera leaf. Not spat out in the real sense of the word, but you get my drift.

Habitat

The Greek word xerophilus means dry loving and refers to the preference of this species for drier, well-drained, only slightly moist sandstone.

The plants are winter-growing. They start flowering in early summer before entering late summer dormancy.