Droseraceae

Droseraceae is a family of carnivorous flowering plants in the order Caryophyllales. It comprises three extant genera: Drosera, the sundews; Dionaea, the Venus flytrap; and Aldrovanda, the waterwheel plant. Drosera is the most species-rich genus, while Dionaea muscipula and Aldrovanda vesiculosa each have a single living species.

All members trap and digest prey to obtain nutrients in nutrient-poor habitats. Drosera leaves are covered with stalked glands that exude sticky mucilage on tentacles, attracting and trapping insects. Dionaea leaves are modified into a snap trap with two lobes that close rapidly when trigger hairs are stimulated. Aldrovanda vesiculosa consists of aquatic, leaf-like structures that form a submerged snap trap.

Natural habitats include bogs, swamps, wetlands, and damp forests, across temperate and tropical regions. These plants are often found where soils are acidic and poor in nitrogen, making carnivory advantageous. They rely on digestive enzymes to break down captured prey and absorb released nutrients through their tissues.

Taxonomically, Droseraceae is placed within Caryophyllales. The three genera are regarded as closely related, though the exact relationships have varied with different analyses. In cultivation, Drosera species are common ornamental carnivorous plants; Dionaea muscipula is widely grown but subject to regional conservation concerns; Aldrovanda vesiculosa is generally more endangered in the wild. Conservation through habitat protection is important for several species.