Droseraceae - sundew family
Species that grow without cultivation on Mount Desert Island

(updated 11 February 2018)


Droseraceae - sundew family
The scientific name of this family comes from the Greek adjective droseros (δροσερος, -η, -ον), which means dewy or watery.

Mount Desert Island is home to 2 species in 1 genus. Click on a link below or scroll down for more information.
   Drosera (2 species)
      Drosera intermedia - spatulate-leaved sundew (occasional [see note 1 at bottom of page])
      Drosera rotundifolia - round-leaved sundew (common)




Drosera (sundew)
Mount Desert Island’s two species of sundews can be distinguished from each other by referring to the table immediately below.

leaf blade shape
Drosera intermedia longer than wide
Drosera rotundifolia more or less round, or even a bit wider than long


Drosera intermedia (spatulate-leaved sundew) - [information to be added]

(click on image to enlarge)

Although a small plant, they can be present in quantity, enough to give a reddish hue to a substantial area (see foreground of image).

(click on image to enlarge)

Drosera rotundifolia (round-leaved sundew) leaves (petiole plus blade) are approximately the same length as those of D. intermedia. The picture below, taken in mid-May, is of young leaves, which are, of course, much smaller than full-grown ones.

(click on image to enlarge)


Note:
   1. Frequency designations are from the paper “Vascular flora of the Acadia National Park region, Maine” by Craig W. Greene, Linda L. Gregory, Glen H. Mittelhauser, Sally C. Rooney, and Jill E. Weber, published in the spring 2005 issue (vol. 107, No. 930) of Rhodora: Journal of the New England Botanical Club.