National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior
Klamath Network Featured Creature March 2008 Sundew (Drosera spp.)
General Description: Distribution: Two species of sundew are native to Both round-leaved and English sundews are our region: the round-leaved sundew circumboreal species, occurring from the (Drosera rotundifolia) and the great wet mires of the British Isles across sundew (D. anglica). Both are northern Europe and much of Siberia to insectivorous plants typically found in Japan, and large parts of northern North infertile and acidic wetlands, such as America. Round-leaved sundew, the more bogs and fens. Wik common species, grows at lower elevations and latitudes as far south as Florida and i p
Sundews are rosette-forming e New Guinea. d i herbaceous perennials with narrow, a hairy leaf petioles that end in spoon- Feeding: shaped leaves covered with 4-10 mm Round-leaved sundew with remains of a The slow but lethal ways of sundews have (0.2-0.4 in) long spines, or laminae. The butterfly. long captured the macabre imagination of upper surfaces of the laminae are school children (at least they did mine!). densely covered with red glandular Both our species, like all other sundews, use hairs that secrete a sticky mucilage, or mucilaginous glands, called tentacles, that “dew,” which inspires the common cover their laminae to attract, trap, and name. In D. rotundifolia, the leaves are digest small arthropods, usually insects. The rounded into “lollipop” profiles, hapless insects are attracted by the sweet whereas in D. anglica the leaves are scent of the “dew” for their last meal. Upon longer and narrowly spoon-shaped. landing on the plant, they become mired in the sticky drops of mucilage as the tentacles A typical round-leaved sundew plant and laminae slowly engulf them. When has a diameter of about 3-5 cm (1.2-2 something gets caught, the tentacles in), with a 5-25 cm (2-9.8 in) tall Wikipedia touching the prey exude extra mucilage to inflorescence rising from the center of mire down and asphyxiate the prey. the leaf rosette. English sundews are English sundew putting the squeeze on an Although most sundew prey consists of unfortunate fly. typically larger, up to 20 cm (~8 in) small insects such as flies, bulkier insects across. Both species have white or pink such as small butterflies, damselflies, and five-petalled flowers, which produce even dragonflies can meet an untimely slender and tapered light brown or demise in the loveless, oozing embrace of black seeds up to 1.5 mm (0.02 in) this plant predator. long. Sundew species frequently form sterile hybrids, with these two local More Information: species forming a hybrid (D. x obovata). Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosera_ Where to see it in the Network: anglica and Both sundew species can be seen at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosera_ Little Willow Lake in Lassen Volcanic Sean SmithNPS rotundifolia NP and Sphagnum Bog in Crater Lake NP. Round-leaved sundew has also Sundew (Drosera spp.) from Crater Lake NP. Jepson Flora Online: been reported near Redwood National The two samples with elongated leaves (on http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/ Park at Big Lagoon. left) are English sundew (D. anglica) and the rosette (on right) is round-leaved sundew (D. rotundifolia). The larger middle sample is Carnivorous Plant Society FAQ: believed to be a hybrid (D. x obovata). http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html