One of the most surprising finds at Bennett Place is a tiny plant that eats insects. Called dwarf sundew (Drosera brevifolia), its specialized leaves exude a sticky substance that catches and digests any insect that touches the plant. The protein in the insects provides nitrogen that is lacking in the very unusual, nutrient-poor soil.Though as gardeners we think of rich soil as an unmitigated good, some soils that are naturally nutrient poor, such as the Helena-type soils found at Bennett Place, frequently support higher biodiversity than naturally rich soils.
In the second photo, you can see how tiny the sundews are. They have been found in only one spot in the field behind the visitors' center.
