Page 33 - 2021 AMA Summer

Great Sundew
green leaves lie flat on the ground, and are pretty noticeable because of the way that they contrast with the background. The rather attractive purple flowers of the Common Butterwort rise on a single stalk, sometimes several to a plant, and are short-lived, so you need to be lucky to catch one, probably between May to July. The plant is sometimes also called the Bog or Marsh Violet. Insects are attracted to the leaves by the sweet nectar and shiny appearance. Once they land, they are trapped in the mucilage on the leaves, and their soft parts are gradually broken down and absorbed, leaving just the exoskeleton; the curvature of the leaves stops the insects from being washed away... yum!
SUNDEWS
The Sundews are in many ways much more attractive, particularly when the sunlight catches the droplets on the tips of the hairs, or tentacles, which cover the leaves. These attract the insects, which then get stuck; more tentacles then attach to it, and the insect gradually gets dissolved.... There are three types found in the UK; most common is the Round- leaved Sundew, Drosera Rotundifolia, with the Great Sundew, Drosera Anglica coming second and the Intermediate, or Long-leaved Sundew, Drosera Intermedia, third. To be honest, the difference between the latter two is pretty much just for botanists to decipher.... I’ve said that the one in the photo is Drosera Anglica, but who knows..... Apparently, it’s all to do with whether the flower stalk comes out of
the centre of the rosette of leaves, or from the side, but even then...... So probably best just to assume that any Drosera with long leaves is an Anglica and leave it at that. Even more than the Butterwort, you have to be really, really lucky to catch a Sundew in flower, especially one where the flower has actually opened (they often just bud and then die), so I was pretty pleased to be able to get the photo of a Rotundifolia with a flower, even if it is a bit out of focus.
All of the Drosera need light and cannot survive being overgrown by other vegetation, so they tend to be on open areas of earth or moss. The leaves are bright green, edged with deep red, which stands out nicely against the background.
Bladderwort
This helps to attract the insects. Once you see one, it’s then pretty easy to start spotting all of the others.
BLADDERWORTS
These grow widely, but rather sparsely in relatively acidic ponds and ditches and, as mountaineers, you might be lucky enough to stumble across one in the Rhinogs, the Lakes or across much of Scotland anywhere up to about 600-680m. This could either be the Greater Bladderwort (Utricularia Vulgaris) or the Lesser Bladderwort (Utricularia Minor) but again, the difference is hard to tell. The root-like leaves float in the water and bear tiny bladders which contain a vacuum and have trap-door entrances with miniscule hairs around them. When a small water insect brushes against the hairs, it triggers the trapdoor, which opens. This causes water to rush into the bladder carrying the insect with it. The trapdoor then closes behind it and the poor wee thing is doomed....
So, there you go. Audrey in the flesh. Something interesting to look for and explain to your SMF students when out in the hills. Good hunting!
Round-leaved Sundew
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 33