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Shield Sundew
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Shield Sundew
ative Photo: Thingnam Girija
Common name: Shield sundew • Nepali: पाम्गा Paamgaa, झिङ्गेजालो Jhingejaalo, कितास Kitas, माखा मार्ने झार Maakhaa Maarne Jhaar
Botanical name: Drosera peltata    Family: Droseraceae (sundew family)

Shield sundew is a carnivorous plant which grows up to 9-32 cm. Basal leaves are densely whorled, which can be absent in many cases. Upper leaves are the strangest leaves one would get to see. They are shaped like shields, which probably is the origin of its common name. These shield shaped leaves have hundreds of tentacles which hold a glad that produces the dew. The dew is very thick and sticky. When an insect gets stuck to some dew, more tentacles move to get there dew covered glands against the insect to keep it from escaping. The glands atop the tentacles then secrete acids and enzymes which dissolve the insect. The glands then reabsorb the nutrient rich fluid. The leaf stalk attaches to the center of the shield. Generally each short stem has one or two leaves and a terminal single flower, which is flat, with 5 white petals.

Identification credit: Navendu Pagé Photographed in Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand & Shirui Hill, Manipur.

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