Dieffenbachia is toxic to dogs. The toxic principles are proteolytic enzyme andinsoluble calcium oxalate crystals known as raphides. Raphides are held in specialised cells called idioblasts, and when a dog chews Dieffenbachia, they penetrate the oral mucosa, triggering the release of histamine by the white blood cells. Damage to the oral mucosa allows proteolytic enzymes to penetrate the tissue, which increases pain and inflammation.
Julia is a writer and landscape consultant from Wollongong with a love of horticulture. She had been an avid gardener for over 30 years, collects rare variegated plants and is a home orchardist. Julia is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge of plant propagation and plant toxicology. Whether it’s giving advice on landscape projects or sharing tips on growing, Julia enjoys helping people make their gardens flourish.
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma – Mini Monstera Split leaf philodendron
Mini monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma) is a tropical plant native to the rainforests of Thailand and Malaysia. The plant has become popular in recent years as a houseplant for its glossy green, pinnatifid foliage and ease of care.
The scientific nameRhaphidophora tetrasperma was given by Sir J. D. Hooker. Despite its common name, it is not actually a species of Monstera, its name is due to the similarity of its leaf shape to the Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa). The botanical name Tetrasperma means ‘four seeds’ in Latin, tetra > four, sperma > seeds.
The Rhaphidophora family comprises approximately 100 species¹.
Julia is a writer and landscape consultant from Wollongong with a love of horticulture. She had been an avid gardener for over 30 years, collects rare variegated plants and is a home orchardist. Julia is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge of plant propagation and plant toxicology. Whether it’s giving advice on landscape projects or sharing tips on growing, Julia enjoys helping people make their gardens flourish.
Common names: Spoon-leaf sundew, sundew, rosy sundew, common sundew
Plant type: Rhizomatous herb
Flower colour: White, pale pink
Bloom time: Late winter, early spring
Sun exposure: Bright, indirect light to part shade
Humidity: 50-75%
Soil pH: Moderately acidic 5.5 to 6.5
Mature height: 2 cm
Flower size: 2.5 cm
Soil type: Sandy, boggy heath
Habitat: Bushland, sandstone heathland
Difficulty level: Easy
Botanical name meaning
Jacques-Julien Labillardière gave the spoon-leaf sundew its botanical name in 1804 from a plant collected in Tasmania.
Drosera – From the Greek word droseros which means dewy, referring to the glandular droplets on the leaf
spatulata – From the Latin word spatulate, which means shaped like a spatula, referring to the spoon-shaped leaves
What is a spoon-leaf sundew?
Also known as rosy sundew, spoon-leaf sundew (Drosera spatulata) is an insectivorous species of plant belonging to the family Droseraceae, one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants containing over 90 species. Its distribution ranges from Southeast Asia, southern China, Japan, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, eastern Australia, and New Zealand.
The spatula-shaped leaves of spoon-leaf sundew grow in a characteristic low-growing rosette formation, hence the term rosetted sundew. Glandular trichomes are present on the upper surface of the leaf and produce a mucopolysaccharide droplet to attract and trap insects and sessile glands that secrete enzymes to break down and digest their prey. When the insect lands on a leaf, the tentacles respond to the touch by bending inwards trapping the prey, in a process known as thigmonasty. Insects serve as a secondary food source to the nutrient-poor soil the spoon-leaf sundew grows.
Leaf colour can range from green to red depending on the amount of sunlight the plants get. White or pale pink self-pollinating flowers up to 6 mm across develop on a long spike from spring to winter, followed by small, black fruit that contains seeds.
Sundew flower stalk
Habitat
Spoon-leaf sundew is commonly found growing in bright, indirect light to part shade in open boggy heath, with acidic, sandy soi
Plants will lose their leaves during dry or overly cold periods. I have witnessed large numbers of spoon-leaf sundews locally that completely vanish during the warmer months. The rhizome remains underground in a dormant state until favourable conditions return.
Care
As long as the plant’s basic needs are met, spoon-leaf sundew is an easy and interesting plant for the green thumb. Spoon-leaf sundews grow naturally in nutrient-poor soil. A succulent mix or sphagnum moss is the preferred growing medium.
Spoon-leaf sundews grow in full sun to part shade and require frequent watering to keep the soil moist at all times. It can help to sit the pot in a saucer with water to keep moisture levels and humidity up. Only use distilled water or rainwater that is low in salts and minerals.
Can be grown outside year-round in tropical climates, but should be brought indoors in areas prone to frost.
Propagation
Spoon-leaf sundew is readily propagated from seed which should be sown in early to mid-spring as the days become longer and temperatures warm.
Frequently asked questions
How big do spoon-leaf sundews get?
Spoon-leaf sundew grows to a width of 2.5 – 5 cm
Are sundews toxic to humans and pets?
Sundews are non-toxic to humans and pets.
Where can I buy a spoon-leaf sundew?
Specialist nurseries often sell sundews, especially during the winter months. Native plants are protected, and should not be removed from the wild.
Julia is a writer and landscape consultant from Wollongong with a love of horticulture. She had been an avid gardener for over 30 years, collects rare variegated plants and is a home orchardist. Julia is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge of plant propagation and plant toxicology. Whether it’s giving advice on landscape projects or sharing tips on growing, Julia enjoys helping people make their gardens flourish.
Painted nettle, Flame nettle, Coleus, Indian borage, Bread and
butter plant, Indian thyme, Country borage, East Indian thyme, Spanish thyme,
Stinging thyme
Julia is a writer and landscape consultant from Wollongong with a love of horticulture. She had been an avid gardener for over 30 years, collects rare variegated plants and is a home orchardist. Julia is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge of plant propagation and plant toxicology. Whether it’s giving advice on landscape projects or sharing tips on growing, Julia enjoys helping people make their gardens flourish.
Ficus spp. is toxic to dogs. The toxic principles are ficin, a proteolytic enzyme, and ficusin, a psoralen, which are present in the milky sap. This causes ocular, oral, dermal and gastrointestinal irritation.
Julia is a writer and landscape consultant from Wollongong with a love of horticulture. She had been an avid gardener for over 30 years, collects rare variegated plants and is a home orchardist. Julia is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge of plant propagation and plant toxicology. Whether it’s giving advice on landscape projects or sharing tips on growing, Julia enjoys helping people make their gardens flourish.
