FlyTrapCare Forums

This is a miniature rose I bought from a hardware store some time back. I didn't think much of it, never fertilized it or given it much sunshine. When I was looking at the long, leggy stems this morning I saw what seem to be sundew tentacles, glistening. The beads of mucus was sticky, though small. This phenomenon only occurred in the new shoots, which grew the plant was in my "care". To test if it's truly carnivorous I placed minute pieces of cheese on the tentacles. I'll update tomorrow on whether they are
digested.

Here's my theory behind this. The rose was carnivorous or is entering a carnivorous phase in its evolution. I can tell because some of the tentacles are mutated versions of spines; its leaf shape is well adapted to a carnivorous nature. Through the lack of care and a far from ideal environment, it activated its insectivorous nature to survive.

Here are some pictures of the tentacles, sorry for the resolution of my point and shoot camera .

No, is not. But your theory is interesting... Do you know what rose do you have ? Some non-carnivorous plants do this for various reasons. Robinia hispida exhibit mucilage on seed pods. I cannot find the photo.

No I don't know the exact parentage. Guess it's a common occurrence then.

I forget to tell you. See the quote from my link. The plant i had grow, but not anymore, had mucilage, most if the plant was young, on the stalks and when the leaves begin to form. If i was to stick a insect, would stick on the dew. But i didn't know the plant name and died. And didn't tried any experiment on it before it died.

Added another image. Red stipule can be seen and the leaves grow from the center.

That is probably for protection but I see no reason for a rose to suddenly start producing mucilage on the stem. It's not attacked by pests and the section of stem is relatively old growth anyway.

It might be a sugary substance to attract ants, which will protect the plants against other predators? The acacia tree also does this to attract ants which attack any animal that tries to eat the tree's leaves