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Taxon  Report  
Drosera capensis  L.
Cape sundew
Drosera capensis is a perennial herb that is not native to California.
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Genus: Drosera
Family: Droseraceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Communities: escaped cultivar

Name Status:
Accepted by PLANTS + POWO

Information about  Drosera capensis from other sources
USDA PLANTS Profile (DRCA14)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

[Wikipedia] Carnivory: Drosera capture insects by luring them with their glossy, magenta-hued beads of false "nectar" (seen covering the tentacles of healthy leaves); this nectar is, of course, merely sticky droplets made-up of digestive enzymes. The secretions act as a visual attractant to nearby insects, as it shines in the sun (hence the common name of sundew). Furthermore, when Drosera plants come into bloom, the flowers themselves bring more potential prey to the vicinity of the plant. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 12/21/2024).