Forest Flora – Trailing Sundew (Drosera prolifera)

#ForestFlora – The Trailing Sundew (Drosera prolifera) is a fascinating little carnivorous plant native and endemic to Queensland’s tropical rainforests. It’s a small, ground-hugging herb from the sundew family (Droseraceae), famous for its sticky leaves that act like natural flypaper, trapping tiny insects.

You’ll find Trailing Sundews mostly in the shaded understory of the Wet Tropics, where they creep along moist forest floors, rocks, and near streams. Their slender stems trail outwards, sometimes making dense mats up to 30 centimetres long. The leaves are covered in tiny hairs tipped with sticky droplets, which attract and catch small insects. This clever carnivory helps the plant survive in nutrient-poor soils by supplementing its diet with nutrients from its prey.

Like other sundews, the Trailing Sundew uses scent, colour and the glistening look of its sticky hairs to lure insects like gnats and flies. Once caught, the leaf slowly curls around the insect, releasing enzymes to digest it and absorb nutrients.

These plants play a special role in the rainforest ecosystem, keeping insect numbers in check and managing to thrive where other plants might struggle. Their unique feeding strategy is just one example of how diverse and fascinating Queensland’s rainforest flora can be.

Right now, Drosera prolifera isn’t listed as threatened under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act, but like many rainforest species, it relies on the ongoing protection of its Wet Tropics habitat.

Fun Facts

• The name Drosera comes from the Greek word “drosos,” meaning “dew,” referring to the sparkling droplets on the leaves.
• Drosera prolifera gets its name from the way it grows “proliferous” leaves – small leaves sprouting directly from mature ones, helping it reproduce quickly (also know as the ‘hen and chicks’ growth habit).
• Carnivorous plants like this one have fascinated botanists for ages and continue to teach us about how plants adapt to tough conditions.
• Learning about plants like the Trailing Sundew helps us appreciate the incredible balance of life in Queensland’s rainforests, and the amazing ways nature adapts to survive.

References

• Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science, Drosera prolifera Wet Tropics Flora
• Australian Tropical Herbarium, Drosera prolifera species profile
• Atlas of Living Australia, Drosera prolifera
• Queensland Museum Botany Collections
• Images courtesy of Boaz Ng / Fierce Flora

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