Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: dewy pine, Portuguese sundew

Family: Droseraceae (Sundew)

Distribution: Western Mediterranean

Habitat: Dry soil

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Comments: When insects land on the leaves, they find themselves stuck to the mucilage secreted by the stalked glands on the leaves. The more the insects struggle, the more ensnared they become, ultimately dying of suffocation or exhaustion. The plant then secretes enzymes which dissolve the insects and release the nutrients, which are then absorbed by the plant. The plant uses these nutrients to supplement the nutrient-poor soil in which it grows.