Drosophyllum Lusitanicum

Drosophyllum lusitanicum, the dewy pine or Portuguese sundew, is a remarkable carnivorous plant that defies the typical carnivore association with wetlands: it grows naturally in dry, calcareous scrub and rocky garrigue of southern Portugal, southwestern Spain, and northern Morocco, in well-drained, alkaline soils with a Mediterranean climate. It attracts insects with a powerful honey-like fragrance and traps them on the glandular, mucilaginous tentacles covering its long, pine-needle-like leaves—the 'dewy' shimmer of these giving rise to its common name. Cultivation is contrary to most carnivorous plants: it requires sharply drained, alkaline mineral media (coarse sand, perlite, limestone chips), watering only when the substrate approaches dryness, no tray watering, excellent air circulation, and full direct sun. It is extremely sensitive to root disturbance and should ideally be grown from seed sown directly in its final container.

Insects (auto-capture)