Drosera rotundifolia
Sundew
a perennial evergreen member of the Drosera genus in the family Droseraceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Droseraceae
- Genus
- Drosera
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 0.1 m
- Spread
- 0.08 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The juice of the plant is used to curdle plant milks[7][8]. You heat the milk and the leaves together in order to make the milk curdle[18].
- Product or use
- Curdling agent
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The sundew has a long history of herbal use, having been popular for its fortifying and aphrodisiac effects[13]. It relaxes the muscles of the respiratory tract, easing breathing and relieving wheezing and so is of great value in the treatment of various chest complaints[14]. The plant has become quite rare and so it should not be harvested from the wild[14]. The flowering plant is antibacterial, antibiotic, antispasmodic, antitussive, demulcent, expectorant and hypoglycaemic[16][18][19][2][10][17][3][5][11][13]. The plant is used with advantage in the treatment of whooping cough, exerting a peculiar action on the respiratory organs[16]. It is also used in the treatment of incipient phthisis, chronic bronchitis and asthma[16]. Externally, it has been used to treat corns, warts and bunions[15].The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use[18]. Use with caution[10]. Internal use of this herb causes a harmless colouring of the urine[19]. An extract of the plant contains plumbagin, which is antibiotic against a wide range of pathogens[11][13]. Because of their protein digesting enzymes, the leaf juice has been used in the treatment of warts and corns[16][11]. The entire fresh plant, harvested when it is starting to flower, is used to make a homeopathic remedy[12]. It is used mainly in the treatment of coughs[12] and is specific for whooping cough[18].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Antibiotic
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Demulcent
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Hypoglycaemic
- Product or use
- Warts
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Substances in the plant are used to curb the growth of bacteria[2].
- Product or use
- Fungicide
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain but excluding he Mediterranean, N. Asia, N. America..
- Habitat
- Wet and moist places in poor peaty soils, occasionally forming a floating fringe on small ponds[16][4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown thinly as soon as it is ripe into pots of a free-draining soil with some charcoal added and with a layer of finely chopped sphagnum moss on top[6]. Surface sow and keep the compost moist. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 20°c[6]. Grow the plants on in the pots for their first growing season, making sure that the soil does not become dry. Divide the plants in the autumn, grow them on in the greenhouse for the winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a sandy peaty soil, succeeding in poor soils and bogs[1][9]. Requires a sunny position[13]. An insectivorous plant, it can survive in nitrogen poor soils because it gets the nutrients it needs from insects[1][18][19][9]. The upper surfaces of leaves are covered with hairs that secrete a sweet sticky substance[18].This attracts insects, which become smeared with it and unable to escape - the plant then exudes a digestive fluid that enables it to absorb most of the insect into its system[18].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2