Round-Leaved Sundew

carnivorous · plants · bogs · nature

Traps insects. The round-leaved sundew has leaves covered in sticky, glistening droplets that look like dewdrops. When a bug lands on these leaves, it gets stuck, and the plant slowly curls its leaf around the insect to digest it for nutrients.

Looks magical. On sunny days, the droplets on a sundew's leaves sparkle like tiny jewels, which is why some people call it a glistening trap. The sparkle helps attract curious insects that become its meal.

Found almost everywhere. This sundew grows across nearly the entire northern half of Earth, from Europe to Siberia to North America, and even in parts of Asia and the Southern Hemisphere. It loves wet, boggy places where most other plants can't survive.

Flourishes in wetlands. Round-leaved sundews grow in bogs, marshes, and fens where the soil is waterlogged and nutrient-poor. By catching bugs, the plant gets the nitrogen and other nutrients it needs from the insects instead of the soil.

Eats what it grows from. Unlike most plants that only drink water and absorb minerals from soil, sundews are carnivorous, meaning they hunt and digest animal prey to survive. This makes them one of nature's most unusual plants.