Latin American species1
D. arenicola var. arenicola D. arenicola var. occidentalis D. ascendens2 D. biflora D. brevifolia3 D. camporupestris D. capillaris3 D. cayennensis4 D. cendeensis D. chrysolepis D. communis var. communis D. communis var. pauciflora D. esmeraldae D. felix D. graminifolia D. graomogolensis D. grantsaui	D. hirtella D. hirticalyx D. intermedia5 D. kaieteurensis D. meristocaulis6 D. montana var. montana D. montana var. schwackei D. peruensis D. roraimae D. sessilifolia7 D. solaris D. tentaculata D. tomentosa8 D. uniflora D. villosa D. viridis D. yutajensis
1All in Drosera sect. Drosera unless otherwise noted. 2Perhaps a form of D. villosa. 3Also occurs in USA, Mexico, Central America, and Cuba. 4Lumped with D. colombiana and the Panamanian D. panamensis. 5Ranges through Europe, USA, Canada, and Cuba. 6In Drosera sect. Meristocaulis. 7In Drosera sect. Thelocalyx. 8Sometimes treated as D. montana var. tomentosa.

Drosera brevifolia


Drosera graminifolia


Drosera graomogolensis

Q: Latin American Drosera

A: South America is a hotspot for Drosera biodiversity, and I am quite confident that there are many species there that have not yet been described. The table on this page lists all the species of South America (including its offshore islands), Central America, and a bit of the Caribbean. Some of these plants are morphologically variable within their geographic ranges, and have been divided into varieties. Not having studied the plants in the wild, I do not feel qualified to comment on the merit of these separations, but I can tell you that they are controversial in some circles!

For the most part, Drosera has not apparently invaded the broad areas in South America that are occupied by dense rainforests. This is presumably a limitation imposed by low light levels on the forest floor; there are no known epiphytic Drosera.

Some of the Latin American species are small and not particularly showy, but some are quite fabulous. Drosera graomogolensis in particular is frequently cited as one of the prettiest species in the genus. (Until recently, this species was treated as a variety of Drosera villosa.)


Drosera sessilifolia

The majority of Latin American species are perennial species, although some are relatively short-lived. For the most part they are tropical in cultivation. However, some species---especially those from the Guiana Highlands---probably respond best to cooler conditions as befits their highland origins. Plants with thick roots can be easily propagated via root cuttings.

The bizarre Drosera meristocaulis has been recently refound in the wild by (of course) Fernando Rivadavia. This plant is an interesting little sundew that, oddly enough, seems more akin to one of the Australian pygmy species than any others. Meanwhile, Drosera sessilifolia looks almost identical to Drosera burmannii of Australia and Asia. Very odd!

Page citations: Rice, B.A. 2006a; Schlauer, J. 1996, 2002.