Question
Hi Jeff and Jacob

This is a question mostly out of curiosity. I have quite a few D. rotundifolias growing in my outdoor bog that I grew from seeds obtained form a number of different sources. When I look at them they are clearly different varieties, one is type is pale green with only a little red in the tentacles
http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t131/selkie630/?action=view¤t=Image051....
and the other is olive green with deep red tentacles
http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t131/selkie630/?action=view¤t=Image001....

The question is, do these different varieties have names and is there anyway for me to identify the variety

As an aside -- are temperate Drosera (rotundifolia, intermedia filiformis)  flowers self pollinating  or do I need pollinate them myself.

Nicole
90 miles from NYC  

Answer
Hi Nicole,

Drosera rotundifolia is the most populous sundew in the world, so you'll definitely see variations of the plant depending on locale.  However, there really isn't too much variation among them, hence they all remain the same species.  At least with US varieties, you might see some differences between those native to the west coast and those native to the east coast.  When grown in the same growing conditions, the west coast variety grows larger and greener, while the east coast variety is smaller and redder.  You usually won't see these differences until mid season.

We used to keep the two varieties separate, but ever since we moved the nursery, we've lost track of them.  Now we just offer a random selection.  

Drosera rotundifolia self-pollinates very easily.  We've had no trouble collecting seeds from them in fall.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin