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The New Eng lan d Carnivo rous Plant Society www.NECPS.org The Dewy Pine Drosophyllum lusitanicum Derived from the ancient Latin word for Portugal, Lusitania, Drosophyllum lusitanicum is a unique carnivorous plant. While most carnivorous plants grow in wet, acidic conditions, the Dewy Pine actually grows in dry, alkaline soil. The Portuguese call this plant “Pinheiro baboso”, which means “slobbering” pine. This plant was one of several “flycatchers” studied by Charles Darwin and proven to be carnivorous. How They Trap Food: Insect prey are attracted to the plant by a strong, sweet aroma resembling that of bee honey. Alighting upon a leaf, an insect is mired in the oily mucilage. However, unlike the sticky glue of the sundews which holds prey to the plant, the mucilage of the Dewy Pine readily pulls off and instead coats the insect. Attempting to escape, larger insects will move up and down the leaf, further coating themselves until they suffocate. The plant then secretes digestive enzymes in a liquid that “slobbers” down the leaf. Typical Prey: The Dewy Pine in cultivation Photo from http://www.necps.org Drosophyllum lusitanicum in the wild Photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosophyllum_lusitanicum Various flying insects like gnats, flies and moths. Where it Lives: Drosophyllum lusitanicum hails from the Mediterranean coastal hills of Portugal, Spain and Morocco. These areas are typically very foggy, and it is believed that this is vital to the growth of the plant, as it appears to absorb the moisture that condenses on its leaves. Basic Care: Drosophyllum lusitanicum is rare in cultivation, partly due to the difficulty of seed germination. Scarification (scraping of the seed surface) may be helpful, as well as having fresh seed. The soil should be kept drier than most carnivorous plants, and lighting should be high. To simulate growth in a Mediterranean climate, the plant should be kept warm and dry in the summer, and chillier and wetter in the winter. References: 1. D’Amato, Peter. 1998. The Savage Garden. Berkeley, California.: Ten Speed Press. 2. Flisek, Jan and Pasek, Kamil. “The Portuguese Sundew in nature and cultivation” http://bestcarnivorousplants.com/Drosophyllum_lusitanicum.htm.