The sundew is a small perennial insectivorous herb.

It has sticky leaves covered in crimson gland-tipped hairs used to trap and digest insects (flies, butterflies and dragonflies too).They secrete a sugary nectar to attract the prey which can become immobilised by the plant's sticky mucilage.

The roots are weak and serve mainly as an anchor and for water absorption.

It blooms from June through August; the flowers are small, regular, white, collect in racemes and opened only in sunshine.

In Mayo three sundew species can be found: Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia and Drosera anglica. Locally frequent their habitats are bogs and very wet peat. The Irish name is Drùchtìn mòna.