Anyone know what this carnivore is... I think it may be a Sundew type but not sure

[RosieC]

I have been having a problem with gnats around my orchids and so when I saw this little carnivore in the garden center I thought it worth a try.

They also had some fly traps and pitchers, but this one seemed be already doing a good job catching little gnats like those I have a problem with. It also still looks quite pretty even when it has tiny flies all over it (it's more covered than you can tell from these pics).

I can tell it's already caught a few more since I got it, so I think it was a good choice.

Anyway, I was hoping one of our experts on Carnivorous plants could tell me what it is. The label just said 'Carnivorous plant' with generic info which covered the pitches and fly traps as well.

I think it's in the sundew type (Drosera?) but can any one confirm that, or even know a more exact ID.

[Tindomul]

Look up Drosera linearis. It really does look like that one. I recently got myself a venus fly trap and am surprised at my success with it. I just keep its pot really wet/flooded and eastern exposure (direct light in the mornings) and it has doubled in size since I got it. Last time I tried keeping it in a humid enclosure and it rotted away. So I want to know how yours does and what conditions your give it so I can get one of my own.

[s.kallima]

It looks like a Drosera capensis or similar

[RosieC]

Thanks for the ideas. My hubby was searching the web and found pics of capensis shortly after I posted and we thought it could be that, it does look like linearis as well though.

Well at least I know it's a Drosera now seeing as there are at least a couple of those it looks like.

Tindo, I was planning on growing it with the pot in a shallow water tray as my hubbies searches had indicated Drosera like that. I currently have it in an east window simply because that's where I have the biggest gnat problem, I'm going to keep it on a windowledge pretty much all the time but may move it arround the house a little.

[Tindomul]

I had no idea that even existed. And it the most common form in cultivation so thats probably what it is.

[RosieC]

Interesting that capensis is more common in cultivation, because that does point that way.

Some of my reading indicated that sundews, including capensis will curl their leaves arround a fly which I had seen no sign of on this, but looking carefully I see that there are small curves in the leaves arround some of the larger gnats, so I guess it does that if needed for the size of fly. I've only got tiny ones on it so far.

[s.kallima]

You can find good info here: The Carnivorous Plant FAQ: African and Madagascan species

Tindomul, D. linearis is a native species apparently rare in north america, I doubt it would be available in cultivation un the UK, but I may be wrong.
D. capensis is very common in CP (carnivorous plants) stores, this is why I mentioned it. But it could be an hybrid as well, or another close species from tropical African species.

Rosie, if you want it to keep doing a good job at catching gnats (and Drosera do very well at that), you need to provide a lot of light to your Drosera.
They will stop producing glue droplets if not enough light, and then won't catch any bug.
I keep mine under fluorescent T5 and they love it !

[Tindomul]

As far as I know all Drosera sp. are semi-active trappers. That is the wait around for something to land on their leaves and then I think if necessary they curl their leaves around the bug to help fully digest the bug. Good luck with it.

[s.kallima]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Interesting that capensis is more common in cultivation, because that does point that way.

Some of my reading indicated that sundews, including capensis will curl their leaves arround a fly which I had seen no sign of on this, but looking carefully I see that there are small curves in the leaves arround some of the larger gnats, so I guess it does that if needed for the size of fly. I've only got tiny ones on it so far.

Yes indeed, they do curve their leaves around a big catch (like a house fly), but for small flies, only a few of the individual stems holding the glue droplets will moved

here is an example : Keehns Carnivores Home

[stefpix]

Make sure you use distilled water and absolutely no fertilizers, esp in the peat.
I find Mexican Pinguiculas are the best CP to control Gnats. have a larger leaf surface and act like sticky traps.