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 | Sundew Other Names: Dew Plant. Round-leaved Sundew. Red Rot.
Botanical Name: Drosera rotundifolia
Family: N.O. Droseraceae |
Description: |
| This little insectivorous plant is found growing in muddy edges of ponds, bogs and rivers, where the soil is peaty. It is a small herbaceous, perennial, aquatic plant, with short and slender fibrous root, from which grow the leaves. These are remarkable for their covering of red glandular hairs, by which they are readily recognized, apart from their flowers which only open in the sunshine. Their leaves are orbicular on long stalks, depressed, Iying flat on ground and have on upper surface long red viscid hairs, each having a small gland at top, containing a fluid, which looks like a dewdrop, hence its name. This secretion is most abundant when the sun is at its height. Flower-stems erect, slender, 2 to 6 inches high, at first coiled inward bearing a simple raceme, which straightens out as flowers expand; these are very small and white, appearing in summer and early autumn. Seeds numerous, spindleshaped in a loose chaffy covering contained in a capsule. These hairs are very sensitive, they curve inward slowly and catch any insects which alight on them; the fluid on the points also retains them. After an insect has been caught, the glandular heads secrete a digestive fluid which dissolves all that can be absorbed from the insect. It has been noted that secretion does not take place when inorganic substances are imprisoned. |
Habitat: |
| Britain, and in many parts of Europe, India, China, Cape of Good Hope, New Holland, North and South America, Russian Asia. |
Constituents: |
The juice is bitter, acrid, caustic, odourless, yielding not more than 30 per cent ash, and contains citric and malic acids.
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Medicinal Usage: |
Used with advantage in whooping-cough, exerting a peculiar action on the respiratory organs; useful in incipient phthisis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, etc., the juice is said to take away corns and warts, and may be used to curdle milk. In America it has been advocated as a cure for old age; a vegetable extract is used together with colloidal silicates in cases of arterio sclerosis.
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Ancient Lore: |
SUNDEW
DROSERA ANGLICA
Some authors tell us that a water distilled from this plant is higher cordial and restorative; but it is more than probable that it never deserved the character given of it in that respect.
A perennial, now known as Great Sundew, which catches and digests insects. It grows to about ten inches (25 cm) high with club-shaped, hollow leaves, full of red hairs. The leaves stay moist on the hottest day. The stalks bear small whitish buds which are the flowers and which afterwards contain the seeds.
Where to find it: In bogs and wet places in woods.
Flowering time: Early summer.
Astrology: The Sun rules it, and it is under the sign of Cancer.
Medicinal virtues: The leaves, bruised and applied to the skin, will erode it and bring out inflammations not easily removed. The juice destroys warts and corns if a little be frequently applied to them.
Moderg uses: This is a fairly rare plant, except for some parts of Scotland and Ireland. Herbalists, therefore, use the Common or Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). This is quite commonly found in Europe, the United States, South America and China, in bogs, wet moors and heathland, but is expensive to buy.
The plant contains a natural antibiotic and is regarded as a specific for whooping cough, but also useful for chronic bronchitis, asthma and laryngitis. Drosera controls the spasms of whooping cough and can be administered as a prophylactic when an epidemic is threatened. Best results are obtained by using a fluid extract or tincture prepared by a herbalist. Five to ten drops are taken in water three or four times a day. Homoeopathic pills in various strengths are also available and have similar indications. |
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