Tracy'S Sundew

drosera tracyi

Tracy's Sundew (Drosera tracyi) is a fascinating carnivorous plant native to the southeastern United States. It stands out among its sundew relatives for its unusually long, erect, grass-like leaves, which are adorned with glistening, sticky tentacles. These tentacles serve as a natural flypaper, luring and trapping small insects that land on them. Adapted to survive in nutrient-poor, acidic wetland environments, the sundew supplements its nutritional needs by digesting its insect prey. This remarkable adaptation allows it to thrive where most other plants would struggle, making it a unique and vital component of its specialized ecosystem.

Habitat: Tracy's Sundew is typically found in acidic, nutrient-poor, sandy soils of wet pine savannas, bogs, and seepage slopes.

Appearance

Tracy's Sundew is characterized by its linear, erect leaves that can grow up to 30 centimeters long, giving it a distinct grass-like appearance. These leaves are covered in numerous reddish glandular hairs, or tentacles, each tipped with a droplet of clear, sticky mucilage that shimmers in the sunlight. The plant forms a basal rosette, often appearing as a clump of these elongated, dewy leaves. Its flowers, typically white or pinkish, are borne on a tall scape, rising above the sticky foliage to avoid trapping potential pollinators.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyDroseraceaeGenusDrosera

Tracy'S Sundew

Interesting facts

Its long, linear leaves can reach up to 30 cm (12 inches) in length, making it one of the largest sundew species native to North America.

The glistening 'dew' on its leaves is actually a highly viscous mucilage that serves as an effective insect trap, rather than actual water droplets.

Tracy's Sundew is named after Samuel M. Tracy, a prominent American botanist who extensively studied flora of the Gulf Coast states.

Unlike some sundews that form compact rosettes, Drosera tracyi often grows erect, with leaves resembling blades of grass, allowing it to blend into its savanna habitat.

Special abilities

Glandular hairs on its leaves produce a glistening, highly viscous mucilage that acts as a natural flypaper, effectively trapping unsuspecting insects.

Once prey is caught, the plant secretes a cocktail of digestive enzymes to break down the soft tissues of the insect, absorbing essential nitrogen and phosphorus.

The tentacles, and sometimes the entire leaf, can slowly bend inwards over several minutes or hours to maximize contact with and digestion of captured prey.

Measurements & details

Length: 10-30 cm
Weight: 0.001-0.005 kg
Lifespan: 1-3 years

Diet & Feeding

Tracy's Sundew is a carnivorous plant that supplements its nutrient intake by trapping and digesting small insects. This adaptation allows it to thrive in nutrient-poor, acidic soils where essential nutrients are scarce.