killerplants.com | Renfield's Garden | Renfield's Garden Archive Most Recent | Free Newsletter Signup

How does this carnivore discourage herbivores?

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Wollemi Pine, greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century—>Click here.

Carnivorous Plants, Deadly Dozen: Africa and India, A Man Among Wolves—>Click here.

Bear Island, Gabon: The Last Eden, Wild Chronicles: Season One 4 DVD Set—>Click here.

The pink sundew (Drosera capillaris Poiret) is native to the southeastern U.S. These carnivorous plants are only a few centimeters across. The leaves form a rosette lying flat upon damp soil. Often the sundews appear in colonies ranging from a few plants to a hundred. In full sunlight, the plants turn red. Sundews attract gnats, fruit flies, and small
advertisement

Sundews glisten because of the sticky secretions on the tips
of the glandular trichomes (hairs).
A Dead Mosquito Rests on an Insectivorous Round-Leaved Sundew
Photographic Print by Joel Sartore
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

flying insects.

Sundews glisten because of the sticky secretions on the tips of the glandular trichomes (hairs). There are two types of these glandular trichomes. The longer glands entrap the insect prey. The shorter glands function to further entrap the prey and exude the digestive enzymes.

Sundews flower in the spring. The inflorescences are held well above the sticky leaves. In most species, the inflorescences are circinate (uncurling and blooming from the bottom upward). One or two flowers open each morning and remain open through the day. If the flower is not insect pollinated by sunset, the flowers will self-pollinate. As the petals close, they knock the pollen off the anthers onto the stigma.

It has long been known that sundews are poisonous to grazing animals particularly sheep. At the time Gerard published
advertisement

Canivorous Long-Leaved Sundew Plants by Michael Melford
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

his original Herbal in 1597, it was believed, "Cattle of the female kind are stirred up to lust by eating even a small quantity: which thing hath greatly increased their vain opinion, without sense or reason...."

Whose vain opinion is not stated, but as it reads one would think he is referring to the cows' opinion of themselves. Odd animal behavior was probably nothing more than a case of poisoning.

Animals usually recover from sundew toxicity. The grazers seldom eat the plants a second time. Though the sundews are carnivorous, they defend themselves against being eaten.

The Digital Library with Texas A and M University has a photograph of Drosera capillaris taken by James Manhart. To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/mi09/mi09088.jpg

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Carnivorous Kit

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Hungry Houseplants Eat Insects!

Clear plastic dome holds a titillating trio: trumpet plant, Venus fly trap and pitcher plant. Fascinating to watch in feeding action! Directions included.

Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more of at Gurneys.com!

Deadly Dozen: Africa and India DVD

National Geographic®

Africa and India host an incredible array of wild creatures who engage in a daily ballet of life and death. Among these species is an elite group of twelve mammals and reptiles equipped with a deadly arsenal of predatory skills. These creatures have honed their skills to ensure the survival of their species, and have become experts in tracking down prey and gobbling it up.

Journey to their inner sanctums with National Geographic to witness first-hand their savagery and their genius in their battles for survival. Click here for price and to view other exciting National Geographic products.

Shop the National Geographic Store. All purchases support research and education.

A Man Among Wolves DVD

National Geographic®

A Man Among Wolves is the unique and unusual story of a man who joins a pack of wolves— living among them, behaving like them— in order to better understand and ultimately help save one of man's most feared predators in the wild.

Witness the incredible story of how Shaun Ellis spent a year and a half raising three abandoned wolf pups by immersing himself in their world as an accepted leader and teaching them by example how to survive in the wild. Click here for price and to view other exciting National Geographic products.

Shop the National Geographic Store. All purchases support research and education.

Bear Island DVD

National Geographic®

The majestic Alaskan brown bear is the largest predator in southeastern Alaska, but its ancient haunts are under siege. As modern worlds close in, the great bear's world is shrinking and encounters between humans and bears are on the rise. Join researcher LaVern Beier as he uses cutting edge technology to protect this extraordinary species.

To observe on their own turf, without risking life and limb, LaVern attempts to deploy National Geographic's Crittercam, until now used almost exclusively on marine animals. Vern and his colleagues are on the cusp of a revolution in terrestrial field science: the opportunity to vicariously walk with bears into the deepest comers of their habitats. Click here for price and to view other exciting National Geographic products.

Shop the National Geographic Store. All purchases support research and education.

Gabon: The Last Eden DVD

National Geographic®

Gabon is an unlikely Eden where relentless predators stalk prey in lush forests and primates, who have not yet learned to fear man, live right alongside forest elephants. Against all odds, one visionary African leader and a group of dedicated scientists defied the conventional wisdom that insists oil and logging are the only way to bring prosperity to an impoverished land.

Out of the wild they created 13 new national parks—and are now developing an eco-tourism industry to sustain them. Gabon: The Last Eden tells this amazing story with stunning footage— silverback gorillas defending territory, mandrill baboons' faces splashed with day-glow color, and hippos wallowing in the ocean—exploring one of the planet's last true wildernesses and what is being done to save it. Click here for price and to view other exciting National Geographic products.

Shop the National Geographic Store. All purchases support research and education.

Wild Chronicles: Season One 4 DVD Set

National Geographic®

The popular series supported by National Geographic Mission Programs, now in its second season on public television stations, connects viewers to the pulse of the planet by providing rare access to the natural world and thrilling adventures in exploration.

Join host Boyd Matson for stories of danger, survival, and curiosity as we explore our planet with those who have traversed its passageways, probed its scientific mysteries, and advocated for its protection. Click here for price and to view other exciting National Geographic products.

Shop the National Geographic Store. All purchases support research and education.

Wollemi Pine

National Geographic®

Exclusively from National Geographic, this survivor from the age of the dinosaurs is one of the greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century. The Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species, belonging to a 200-million-year-old plant family thought to have been extinct for more than two million years.

Previously known only from fossil records, it was presumed extinct until a single tree was found in the Wollemi National Park, Australia, in 1994. Subsequent research discovered 100 adult trees that have survived in a single canyon in this wild and rugged area. Click here to view canyon, trees and fossil record.

You can assist in the conservation effort and enjoy the unique opportunity to ensure the continued survival of this rare species by giving the tree as a gift or growing your own. Suitable for indoor container gardening or as a landscape tree in certain areas of the U.S.

Comes with a care manual with the full story about the discovery and fascinating history of the Wollemi pine. Comes in a copper-colored container and will be approximately 10''H when shipped. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plants will fund ongoing conservation research. Click here to get your Wollemi Pine and assist in the conservation effort.

National Geographic Magazine

National Geographic®

You are invited to roam the world in the pages of National Geographic magazine. Explore the diversity of our planet's lands and inhabitants in compelling stories covering topics such as animals, nature, science, technology, culture, history, travel, adventure, exploration, and geography. The monthly National Geographic magazine is your key benefit of membership.

Additional benefits include:

As many as five wall map supplements throughout the year in issues of the magazine
A personalized Membership Certificate
Special discounts on selected products
The opportunity to examine special Society products free in your home before deciding to purchase
The privilege of traveling the world with the Society's educational travel tour programs
The satisfaction of supporting important research, conservation, education, and exploration projects

Join the Society and bring the adventure of National Geographic into your home! Click here for price and more info...