Round-leaf sundew/Drosera rotundifolia
Drosera (Soldug), commonly known as the sundews have over 170 species. These members of the family Droseraceae capture and digest insects using stalked mucilaginour glands covering the leaf surface. Various species can be found growing natively on every continent except Antarctica. The name Drosera comes from Greek drosos = dew, dewdrops, but also the English and the Danish common name sundew/soldug refers to the glistening drops at the tip of each tentacle that resemble drops of morning dew.
Sundew/Soldug is protected in Denmark.
Sundews generally grow in moist or more rarely constantly wet habitats with acidic soils and high levels of sunlight. Common habitats include bogs, fens, swamps, marshes etc. Many species grow in association with sphagnum moss, which allows sundews, which don't rely on soil-bound nutrients, to flourish where more dominating vegetation would usually outcompete them.
Sundews were used as medicinal herbs as early as the 12th century, when an Italian doctor Platearius recommended the plant as an herbal remedy for coughs under the name "herba sole". It has been used commonly in cough preparations in Germanyand elsewhere inEurope. Sundew tea was especially recommended by herbalists for dry coughs, asthma and bronchitis. A modern study has shown that Drosera does exhibit antitussive properties.
Culbreth's 1927 Materia Medica listed Drosera rotundifolia, anglica and linearis as being used as stimulants and expectants. Sundews have also been used as an aphrodisiac and to strengthen the heart, as well as to treat sunburn, toothache, and prevent freckles. They are still used today in some registered medications, usually in combination with other active ingredients. Today Drosera is usually used to treat ailments such asasthma, coughs, lung infections, and stomach ulcers. Medicinal preparations are primarily made using the roots, flowers, and fruit-like capsules. Since all native sundews species are protected in many parts of Europe and North America, extracts are usually prepared using cultivated fast-growing sundews.
photo 27. June 2009 Rold Skov & 27 June 2010,Vildmosen, North Jutland: grethe bachmann
No comments:
Post a Comment