Roridula dentata Species Profile

Roridula dentata Species Profile

Roridula dentata is a carnivorous plant endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa. The species is named for its dentate leaves.

Roridula dentata has clusters of pointed leaves with strongly serrated edges. These leaves are arranged in a rosette at the end of a woody stem. The stems are strongly branching, growing into a tree-like bush. Large plants reach up to 2 meters high. The flowers are pink. The species exude a very sticky resin-based glue that can trap large insects. Symbiotic assassin bugs called Pameridea roridulae roam the plants and hunt trapped prey. The droppings from the Pameridea bugs are thought to fertilise the plants.

The plants grow in the Cederberg and Koue Bokkeveld Mountain ranges between Ceres and Clanwilliam in the Western Cape, South Africa. It inhabits well-drained fynbos slopes. Roridula dentata is distinguished from R. gorgonias by its dentate leaves (those of R. gorgonias are not serrated).

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