Shield Sundew

Shield Sundew
Shield Sundew
Images ©:
©Drosera peltata - Richard Hartland CC-BY, Drosera peltata - Joan Overeem

Drosera peltata


Carnivorous climbing or scrambling perennial herb, tuberous, basal leaves flat to soil, and shield-shaped leaves 5-15 mm long, often tinged with variable amounts of red (or even solid red), on 5 mm stalks on stem to 50 cm high, simple or branched. Flowers, 2-8, generally white or light pink.


Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Former Scientific Name
Drosera peltata ssp. peltata
Other Common Names
Pale Sundew
Distinctive Features

Insectivorous plant with basal rosette of leaves that in sun glisten like dew, and flowers on long stalk to 50 cm.

Biology

Perennial. Widespread in moist situations. Tolerates disturbance. Often survives in grazed sites. Can survive drought as a dormant underground tuber.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Aug-Jan

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Droseraceae
Genus
Drosera
Species
peltata

Traps small insects using the sticky hairs around the margins of the leaves. These hairs contain a gland that releases digestive enzymes.


Interesting Facts
Similar Species

This genus is is either a single extremely variable species, or a complex of several closely related species. D. auriculata is similar but is distinguished by having less pronounced basal leaves.

Native Status
Native