Drosera Rotundifolia

Drosera rotundifolia, commonly known as the round-leaved sundew, is a fascinating carnivorous plant typically found in bogs, marshes, and fens. One of the most widespread sundew species, it thrives in northern Europe, much of Siberia, North America, Korea, Japan, and parts of New Guinea.

Parts Used:

• Entire Plant

Morphology:

This small herbaceous plant grows in a basal rosette form. Its leaves have narrow, hairy petioles (1.3–5 cm long) with rounded laminae (4–10 mm) densely covered in red, glandular hairs. These hairs secrete a sticky mucilage to trap insects.

The plant typically measures 3–5 cm across, with flower stalks rising 5–25 cm above the rosette. The flowers, white or pink with five petals, grow on one side of a slender, hairless stalk. Its tiny seeds (1–1.5 mm) are light brown, slender, and tapered.

In winter, it forms a hibernaculum — a tightly curled bud at ground level — to survive the cold.

Therapeutic Uses:

Drosera rotundifolia has a long-standing place in traditional herbal medicine, particularly for respiratory ailments.

Key Properties:

• Antibacterial

• Antibiotic

• Antispasmodic

• Antitussive (relieves cough)

• Demulcent (soothes irritated tissues)

• Expectorant (helps expel mucus)

• Hypoglycaemic

Medicinal Applications:

• Eases breathing and relieves wheezing in chest complaints

• Effective in treating whooping cough, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and early stages of tuberculosis (phthisis)

• Applied externally for warts, corns, and bunions

An extract of the plant contains plumbagin, known for its strong antibiotic properties against various pathogens. Its leaf juice, due to protein-digesting enzymes, is also used externally for treating warts and corns.

In Electrohomeopathy:
Dr. Mattei considered this plant valuable for all chest-related ailments and included it in his “Peptorale” remedies.