Pink Sundews: The Tiny Carnivore

It's tiny and pink and very unassuming, but don't be fooled. The plant's glands produce nectar to attract prey, powerful adhesive to trap it and enzymes to digest it. Brilliant little bug-eating beauties!

This carnivorous little plant is one of five sundews native to Florida and is found in wet flatwoods and bogs throughout the state.

According to the National Wildlife Foundation, Sundews are “flypaper” plants that trap prey in sticky hairs on their leaves. Tentacles protrude from their leaves, each with a sticky gland at the tip - these droplets look like dew glistening in the sun, thus their name.

I found these on a recent hike at the Rhodine Scrub Preserve and Trails in Riverview, Florida. Pink Sundews like these like boggy conditions and full sun (and they are tiny) so look closely!

References: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Sundews

http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/types-of-gardens/bog-gardens.html