How to distinguish the spider leg sundews (former D. indica)

[shartmeyer]

Our new documentary "The Realm of Emergences" shows the history and the currently most detailed description of the spider leg sundews (section Arachnopus) by their different emergences in an entertaining fashion. With D. hartmeyerorum, Dr. Jan Schlauer split the first species from D. indica for its unique morphology in 2001. Criticized by some experts at that time, today we can say with certainty that the plants in this section can actually be distinguished by their emergences, even if their function is often not known. Only the characteristics of the emergences of D. hartmeyerorum have been unequivocally proven. They function as optical lenses, which light up bright yellow even under a red laser beam. In D. cucullata we find structures that appear like ant abdomens and when the German couple Holger & Anja Hennern discovered a sundew with ice-lolly emergences in 2008, even the experts were amazed. These and further emergences that appear even more fascinating beneath the microscope help to identify the plants that have been distinguished from D. indica so far. Those who have seen this film should not have problems with naming the plants any more. Enjoy this film that is edited with animated state of the art maps, fascinating microscope shots and a fitting soundtrack. Kind regards, Siggi and Irmgard Hartmeyer.