From his initial observations in 1860 of Drosera rotundifolia, the common sundew, Darwin developed a series of experiments ultimately establishing how "excellently adapted" these plants are to catching insects. Darwin knew that these plants flourish in nitrogen-limited environments, growing in bogs, poor peaty soil and moss. Most plants receive nutrients from the soil by their roots, but these plants have poor root systems and have adapted to receive nutrients from captured insects.
