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Drosera capensis


Drosera capensis
Photo Information
Copyright: Marx Kol (Marx44) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 52 W: 71 N: 231] (1493)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-18
Camera: Canon EOS 30 D, Canon EF 100 mm F2.8 Macro USM
Exposure: f/4, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-18 6:20
Viewed: 302
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Drosera capensis, commonly known as the Cape sundew, is a small rosette-forming species of perennial sundew native to the Cape in South Africa. Because of its size, easy to grow nature, and the copious amounts of seed it produces, it has become one of the most common sundews in cultivation. D. capensis produces strap-like leaves, up to 15 cm long and 1 cm wide[citation needed] , which, as in all sundews, are covered in brightly coloured tentacles which secrete a sticky mucilage that traps insects. When insects are first trapped, the leaves roll lengthwise by thigmotropism, which aids digestion by bringing more digestive glands in contact with the prey item. The plant has a tendency to retain the dead leaves of previous seasons, and the main stem of the plant can become quite long and woody with time.

In early summer, D. capensis produces small, five-petalled pink flowers at the end of scapes which can be up to 30 cm tall[citation needed] . The plant self-pollinates upon closing and produces copious quantities of very small, spindle-shaped seeds, which are released from the capsules that form when the flower has died. Under horticultural conditions, carnivorous plant enthusiasts find that these seeds have a tendency to find their way into neighbouring plant pots where they germinate readily, giving D. capensis a reputation as a plant that is just a little too easy to grow.

D. capensis has multiple cultivars, such as var. alba which is a white form with pink trichomes[citation needed] . There is also a "red form" that turns blood red in full sunlight, a broad leaf variety, and also a narrow- leafed form. These cultivars are commercially available
mbasil, Alan_Kolnik, haraprasan, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Very intersting macro. I love the details on this -- the plant, the dew, the shape... Well done.
Mike.

Fascinating image - at first i thought I was looking at some rare bird. If you have a tripod, try a slower shutter speed and smaller aperture to get greater depth of field.

Hi Marx,
A nice capture of this beautiful carnivorous plant. Superb details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Witam serdecznie!
Dawno zaznaczone zdjecie by nie przeoczyc, ale z uwagi na liczne wyjazdy brakowalo czasu by usiasc przy TN...
Bardzo fajna fotka artystyczna :) Podoba mi sie kompozycja i detal. Moze troche szumy miejscami widac (polecam darmowego NeatImage), ale ogolnie bardzo na plus! :)
Pozdrowienia z Lodzi,
Radek

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