Common Sundew

Drosera spatulata

“A small rosette herb, about 30mm wide.” NPOS p.164

The Common Sundew is a small ground herb, it has remarkable leaves that are covered in coarse red hairs and tipped with a clear sticky fluid. When small insects get stuck the leaves roll up and the insect in consumed. In this way the Sundew is able to supplement it’s diet by providing nitrogen that is lacking in sandy soils. The Sundew is a small plant and easy to miss unless you are really looking. They are not rare but I’ve only found them growing in a few areas on sandy / clayey soil that is wet year round.

Common Sundew – A small carnivorous plant that captures it’s insect prey with leaves covered in sticky fluid.

Common Sundew – key for scale

Resources and references

• Wikipedia
• Atlas of living Australia

• Carnivorous
• Common Sundew
• Drosera
• Drosera Spatulata
• Native