Round-leaved sundew

Sundew gets its name because its leaves look as though they are covered in dew. It is in fact a sticky substance that traps flies. D. rotundifolia forms a rosette of rounded, green leaves with pink glands that emit the glue-like substance. The glands on the leaf gradually enclose the insect, while chemicals produced from the plant extract nutrients from the insect to substitute those lacking in the soil. Sundews like nutrient-poor, acidic soils and prefer damp soil conditions, such as a bog garden or beside a pond. Don't be put off if you don't have these conditions, because drosera grows well in containers placed in shallow water. It doesn't like limey water - so if you come from a chalky area use saved rainwater instead.