Ord. DROSERACEtE. 



Herbas saspius glanduliferas, vix stipulate, vernatione cir- 

 cinata? : dicotyledoneae, hypogyna?, pentamera?, symmetrica^ 

 et regulares ; staminibus discretis petalis marcescenti-persis- 

 tentibus numero asqualia (5), nunc dupla v. tripla, antheris 

 extrorsis ; ovario uniloculari, placentis 3 seu 5 parietalibus, 

 raro basilaribus ; stylis discretis vel in unicum connatis ; 

 ovulis indennitis anatropis ; capsula loculicide 3 - 5-valvi ; 

 embryone in basi albuminis carnosi brevissimo. 



DroserejE, Salisb. Parad. Lond. p. 95. 



Droseraces:, DC. Theor. Elem. p. 214, & Piodr. 1. p. 317. Lindl. 

 Introd. Nat. Syst. ed. 2. p. 66. Endl. Gen. p. 906. 



The Sundew Family is most nearly related to Violaceae on the one hand 

 and to Cistaceae on the other ; from both of which it is distinguished by its 

 minute embryo, extrorse anthers, the usually distinct or divided styles, 

 the circinate vernation (the inflorescence as well as the leaves being rolled 

 up from the apex towards the base in the bud), and a peculiar habit. The 

 leaves in most plants of the order are beset with stalked glands, which se- 

 crete a clear, viscid fluid, and give the plant the appearance of being cover- 

 ed with dew-drops ; whence the popular name of Sundew, as well as the 

 scientific name of Drosera. Some of the bristly hairs of the common Sun- 

 dew are irritable to the touch ; and this is more strikingly the ease in a 

 New Holland species, in which the glandular fringes of the leaves are said 

 to close upon flies and other insects that happen to alight upon them. This 

 peculiarity is carried to its maximum in Dionsea, the Venus's Fy-trap, of 

 North Carolina, in which the blade of the leaf closes suddenly, so as to im- 

 prison insects which attempt to traverse its upper surface. 



The family comprises seven genera, namely, Drosera, which is cosmop- 

 olite and embraces much the larger part of the species ; Sondera, a New 

 Holland genus recently established by Dr. Lehmann, which is remarkable 

 for its octamerous flowers ; and Drosop/ii/llum of the sands of Portugal, 

 Aldrovanda, a floating aquatic of the Soutli of Europe, Roridula of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, Bybhs of New Holland, and Diontca of the savannas 

 of l !arolina, — each of a single species. 



