Roridula dentata L.

Taxonomy and Common Name

Roridula dentata, commonly known as the northern dewstick, is a protocarnivorous plant native to the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Distribution

It is only found in South Africa, growing in the hotter, more arid inland mountains of Clanwilliam, Tulbagh, and Ceres, and can reach a height of over 150 cm.

Leaf Characteristics

Its leaves are covered in sticky hairs that produce resin, unlike the mucilage produced by most other sticky carnivorous plants.

Prey Capture

This sticky resin allows the plant to catch insects including wasps and bees, and very occasionally small birds.

Pameridea Bug Association

The plant benefits indirectly from the prey it catches, because multiple species of the bug genus Pameridea are not affected by the stickiness of the leaves.

Mutualistic Relationship

Roridula dentata absorbs nitrogen from the droppings of these Pameridea bugs, forming an obligate mutualistic relationship between the two species.

Carnivory Classification

This relationship functions as a form of indirect carnivory, and some experts consider this enough to classify Roridula dentata as a true carnivorous plant with flypaper-type traps.