Sundew roundleaf

The round-leaved sundew, also known as Drosera rotundifolia or sky dew, is a "carnivorous" plant that belongs to the sundew family (Droseraceae) and is protected in Germany by the Federal Species Protection Ordinance. Drosera, with a total of 85 species, is mainly found in the southern hemisphere, especially in Australia and New Zealand. The plants growing in Europe can be found in the subarctic zone. All sundew species are strictly protected.

The rosette-like leaves are round to transversely oval. In summer, 7 to 15 cm long, hairy, leafless flower shafts grow with 4 to 12 flowers and reddish, glandular hairs, so-called tentacles, along the edges. The small glands on the upper side of the leaves secrete a sticky liquid that acts as a "glue trap" for small insects. The dew-like aspect of the droplets led to the name "sundew" or Drosera ('droseros' = dewy). When touched by the insects, the tentacles bend and press the trapped insects against the leaf surface. Protein-splitting enzymes digest the insects so that finally only the chitinous shell remains.

The dried herb of the plant(Drosera herba) is used phytotherapeutically.

The round-leaved sundew is a perennial plant that emerges from a winter bud and forms a downy rosette. The plant grows to a height of between 5 and 20 cm and has leaf stalks with lengths between 1 and 7 cm. At the end of the stems are roundish catching leaves with diameters of 0.5 to 1.8 cm, each with about 200 fine, reddish tentacles. These are capable of secreting a sticky secretion, which the plant uses to catch insects.
The flowering period of the round-leaved sundew is from June to August.
However, the flowers, which grow on bunches of grapes up to 30 cm high, only open when there is sufficient sunlight.

Drosera rotundifolia is (together with other sundew species) the parent plant of Drosera herba.

Extracts from the herb are used in cosmetic formulations. S.u. Drosera rotundifolia (INCI).

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/sonnentau.php
2. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/drosera/sonnentau.htm
3. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/sonnentau.htm