Bayshore/ Spatulate-leaved Sundew

COMMON NAME: Spatulate-Leaved Sundew

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Oblong-Leaved Sundew

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Drosera intermedia

FAMILY: Droseraceae

COMMUNITY: Maritime Forest

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Annual to Perennial

HEIGHT: to 4 inches

FLOWERING TIME: Late June to late August

FRUITING TIME: September to October

DISTRIBUTION: Newfoundland to Florida ~ Statewide in NJ, most abundant in Pine Barrens

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Leaved oblong to oval shaped, hairy on upper side. rosette of basal leaves, alternate ~ Seeds reddish-brown, oblong, blunt ~ Insectivorous with a blade either modified as an active trap often provided with irritable, mucilage-tipped tentacle-hairs, blade covered with many secreting hairs ~ Flowers small white petals ~ Fruit 3-segmented capsule

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family, Droseraceae commonly known as the Sundew family consists of 4 genera and 85 species of herbs and half shrubs.  Greek Droseros mean “dewy”.  A viscid, dewlike fluid is exuded by the plant when the sun is at its height, and thus the Latin name of the plant, ros solis (ros means “dew”). According to Cutler, (1785), “The whole plant is sufficiently acrimonious to erode the skin.  Bur Dr. Withering says, some ladies know how to mix the juice with milk, so as to make it an innocent and safe application to remove freckles and sunburn.  The juice will destroy warts and corns.  If the juice is put into a strainer, through which the warm milk from the cow is poured and the milk set by for a day or two to become acescent [solid], it acquires a consistency and tenacity--neither the whey nor the cream will separate.  In this state it is used by the inhabitants in the north Sweden and called an extremely grateful food”.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.