Drosera ultramafica

     The Drosera ultramafica is a high montane forest species of sundews that grow on ultramafic soil in Mount Mantalingahan, Mount Victoria and Schom-Carp Peak. Sundews are uncommon here and many hikers, like me, found this plant fascinating. This attractive carnivorous plant has an unusual way to capture preys. The upper surface of the leaves is covered with flexible glandular hairs or trichomes. The tip or the secretory head of each of these hairs are coated with transparent and sticky substance that looks similar to glistening droplet of dews. Crawling and flying insects are trapped upon touching these, and eventually engulfed in a web of sticky hairs as they struggle to escape. The enzymes secreted by the plant dissolve the prey, and its nutrients are absorbed by the plant through the leaf surfaces. This plant can also be found in Malaysia and Indonesia, but the Drosera ultramafica in the Philippines occurs only in Palawan.