The inflorescence of D. trinervia is covered in fine
red hairs that mask the plant’s green colour.
this led to their insectivorous nature. The more recent theory, however, argues that they are an advanced group of plants that have
overcome the limitation of poor soil
condition and have effectively
The flowers of D. cistiflora are large with a darkgreen centre.
adapted to their environment by
deriving part of their nutritional
requirements from insects. The latter theory argues that a change to
an insectivorous way of life would
require both physiological and mor-
phological adaptations, something
that is hard to imagine of a primitive plant. Whatever the case may
be, these plants certainly are intriguing.
Original Reference
Maneveldt, G.W. 1998. Sundews: Insect-eating Plants. Veld & Flora 84(1): 10-11.
Diminutive D. trinervia individuals embedded in a mound of moss, their typical habitat.