| Drosera rotundifolia L., the Round-Leaved Sundew (RLS), is an herbaceous, perennial, carnivorous plant native to circumboreal bog habitats. Three sub-populations within the southern-most range of the species were examined to determine the phenology, pollination ecology, and the breeding biology of Drosera rotundifolia. Phenological and pollinator observations, along with bagging and seed-viability experiments, demonstrated that Drosera rotundifolia is a facultative selfer. Although cleistogamy is often found in this species throughout its range, I found only chasmogamous flowers in my populations. No pollinator visitation was observed. Large quantities of seed was produced by self-pollination. The distribution of the seed was by non-specific dispersal mechanisms including moving water and incidental endozoochory. Recommendations for future lines of research include: a determination of the possible presence of apomixis in the study population: and an examination of other populations of Drosera rotundifolia throughout the range of the species to determine the presence or absence of cleistogamous races as part of this carnivorous plant's reproductive strategy. |
