Drosera, Drosera rotundifolia, Round-leaved sundew, common sundew

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 8 min read

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Article Summary

Drosera also known as Round-leaved sundew and common sundew has got its scientific name Drosera rotundifolia. Drosera could be found from Greenland, Newfoundland west to Alaska. It could be found in Pacific coast, Western Montana, California and Western Colorado. It is also available in Georgia, Nova Scotia, Alabama, Florida, Lowa, Mississippi River and Minnesota. Drosera also occurs in Asia as well as Europe. Drosera does...

Key Takeaways

This article explains Facts of Drosera in simple medical language.
This article explains Drosera (Sundew) Scientific Classification in simple medical language.
This article explains Traditional uses in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.

Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Facts of Drosera

Name	Drosera (Sundew)
Scientific Name	Drosera rotundifolia
Native	It is found in Siberia, Korea, North America, New Guinea and Japan. Its habitat is in Britain, Europe, China, India, New Holland, Cape of Good Hope, Russian Asia and South and North America.
Common/English Name	Round-leaved sundew, common sundew
Name in Other Languages	Dutch: Ronde Zonnedauw; Danish: Rundbladet Soldug; German: Rundblättriger Sonnentau; Swedish: Pyöreälehtikihokki, Rundsileshår; French: Rossolis À Feuilles Rondes, Droséra À Feuilles Rondes; English: Round-Leaf Sundew; Catalan: Herba de la gota, Dròsera; Spanish: Drosera, Rocio del sol, Hierba de la gota; Chinese: Yuán yè máo gāo cài (圆叶茅膏菜); Finnish: Pyöreälehtikihokki; Italian: Drosera a foglie rotonde; Romanian: roua cerului; Russian: rosjanka kruglolistnaja (росянка круглолистная);
Plant Growth Habit	Insectivorous, perennial, aquatic
Soil	Moist or wet soil
Plant Size	6 in. (15 cm)
Root	Short, slender, fibrous
Stem	Slender, erect, 2 to 6 inches high
Leaf	Basal rosette, narrow, hairy, petioles 1.3-5.0 cm long; laminae 4-10 mm long
Flowering Season	Summer and early autumn
Flower	Diameter 3-5 cm, 5-25 cm tall; white or pink, five petals
Fruit shape & size	Pear-shaped, glossy, tapering tip
Plant parts used	Flowering plant dried in the air
Seed	Slender, tapered, 1.0-1.5 mm, light brown, ellipsoid to globose

Drosera (Sundew) Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Drosera rotundifolia

Rank	Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom	Plantae (Plantes, Planta, Vegetal, plants)
Subkingdom	Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta (Land plants)
Superdivision	Embryophyta
Division	Tracheophyta (Vascular plants, tracheophytes)
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Caryophyllales
Family	Droseraceae (Sundews)
Genus	Drosera L. (Sundew)
Species	Drosera rotundifolia L. (Roundleaf sundew)
Synonyms	Drosera corsica (Maire) A.W.Hill Drosera corsica Maire Drosera rotundifolia f. comosa (Fernald) B.Boivin Drosera rotundifolia f. rotundifolia Drosera rotundifolia subsp. bracteata (Lyngb.) Sylven Drosera rotundifolia subsp. bracteata (Lyngb.) Sylven ex Witte Drosera rotundifolia subsp. bracteata Kern & Steen. Drosera rotundifolia subsp. bracteata Lyngb. Drosera rotundifolia subsp. breviscapa Domin Drosera rotundifolia subsp. breviscapa Regel Drosera rotundifolia subsp. comosa Fern. Drosera rotundifolia subsp. corsica (Maire) Briquet Drosera rotundifolia subsp. cristata Hort.E.Koenig Drosera rotundifolia subsp. distachya (DC.) Rouy Drosera rotundifolia subsp. distachya DC. Drosera rotundifolia subsp. furcata Y.Z.Ruan Drosera rotundifolia subsp. genuina Briquet Drosera rotundifolia subsp. gracilis Laest. Drosera rotundifolia subsp. gracilis Laest. ex Hulten Drosera rotundifolia subsp. longipetiolata Len. Drosera rotundifolia subsp. longipetiolata Len. ex M.Tamura Drosera rotundifolia subsp. maritima Graebner Drosera rotundifolia subsp. pygmaea Saelan Drosera rotundifolia subsp. pygmaea Saelan ex Hjelt Drosera rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia Drosera rotundifolia var. breviscapa Regel Drosera rotundifolia var. capillaris A.A.Eaton & Wright Drosera rotundifolia var. comosa Fernald Drosera rotundifolia var. corsica Maire Drosera rotundifolia var. distachya DC. Drosera rotundifolia var. furcata Y.Z.Ruan Drosera rotundifolia var. gracilis Laest. ex Hultén Drosera rotundifolia var. longipetiolata H.Lév. Drosera rotundifolia var. maritima Graebn. Drosera rotundifolia var. rotundifolia Drosera septentrionalis (Scop.) Stokes Drosera septentrionalis subsp. rotundifolia (L.) Stokes Rorella rotundifolia (L.) All. Rossolis rotundifolia (L.) Moench Rossolis septentrionalis Scop.

This plant has been using for its aphrodisiac and fortifying effects since long time ago. It is used to treat chest problems, wheezing, ease breathing and respiratory tract. It possesses bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।" data-rx-term="antibiotic" data-rx-definition="An antibiotic is a medicine used to treat bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।">antibiotic, antibacterial, antitussive, antispasmodic, expectorant and hypoglycaemic activity. This plant could be dried and kept for later use.

Plant

Drosera is a sundew species plant that could be found in marshes, bogs, and fens. This plant also grows in rotting logs, swamps, and mossy cervices in rocks. It is a perennial plant that has short life. It could be found in all areas of Northern Europe. The plant is insectivorous as it feed on insects which got attracted to its bright red color. With the use of enzymes the plant dissolves insects that stuck to glandular tentacles and, ammonia, as well as other nutrients, are extracted from their bodies. Nitrogen which is absorbed by other plants from soil are replaced by ammonia.

Leaves

Its leaves are arranged in basal rosette with 1.3-5.0 cm long petioles that are hairy and narrow which supports laminae of 4-10 mm long. The upper surface secretes sticky mucilage for attracting and entrapping small prey and insects.

Flower and Seeds

The plant bears 5-25 cm high inflorescence with diameter 3-5 cm. On the side of a slender, flowers grow with hairless stalk that emerge from the center of leaf rosette. The flowers have white or pink five petals that produce fruit which consists of slender and tapered seeds of 1.0-1.5 mm in light brown color. The seeds have ellipsoid to globose shape which is extended at each end.

Root

It has shallow root system which measures less than 6 cm or 2.4 inches. The taproot functions for less than a year that got replaced with horizontal adventitious roots that has few hairs.

Traditional uses

This herb is useful for treating asthma, bronchitis, tracheitis, pertussis, and gastric ulceration.
It eases breathing, relax respiratory tract muscles and provides relief from wheezing.
It helps to treat chest problems and whooping cough.
It is an aid for chronic bronchitis, incipient phthisis and asthma.
Use it externally for treating warts, corns and bunions.
The juice made from leaves is used to treat corns and warts.

Precautions

Pregnant and lactation women should avoid using Drosera.
Allergic people should avoid it.
Consult by the people with health problems before using Drosera.
Side effects such as tightness in chest or throat and breathing problems, rash, skin hives and swollen skin might be caused.

References

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Drink warm safe fluids and avoid smoke/dust exposure.
Use a mask and seek testing advice if infection is suspected.
Breathing difficulty should be treated as a warning sign.

OTC medicine safety

Cough syrups are not always needed; ask a clinician or pharmacist, especially for children.
Do not use leftover antibiotics for cough without medical advice.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Shortness of breath, blue lips, chest pain, coughing blood, severe weakness, or low oxygen needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider

Tests to discuss with doctor

Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first
If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story
Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician
A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests
Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse
If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.