FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

my little quarter-sized D. Tonkanensis is putting out her first flower stalk!! it's so small though lol. gonna be dainty flowers


and sidequestion: why are sundews "hairy" lol?

Nice, it's obviously enjoying your care

Not all sundews are hairy, like the binata that just started growing for me has completely smooth petioles, but I bet it has something to do with moisture retention. Typically hairs create a micro climate around whatever is hairy to protect it from the elements--just like our own hair.

That's my theory anyway, I am no expert but I think that makes sense...
Keep us posted when it opens up!

makes sense...my binatas are a little hairy right around where the leaves come out. I will definitely post pictures as it opens! it's grown over the night lol. I'm thinking there's something to the wetter medium thing; this sundew is in a regular short drinking glass with my bladderworts, gets watered every other day, and it's growing like a weed. maybe I need to up the water of my other sundews lol...

Hmmmm, maybe to discourage pests like aphids from eating the dew-less parts?

It can also help mitigate harsh air movement in cold, dry, or hot conditions for example.

And according to Peter D'Amato, the hairs reflect harsh sunlight from the pygmy dews in Australia, as their dormancy is in the summer.

you guys are all so smart lol...wanna share some smartness through internet osmosis?