Published on June 25, 2025 by Gunnar Sadowey 聽
Drosera rotundifolia
The bright red leaves of Drosera rotundifolia when growing fully exposed to sunlight.

A from 极乐禁地 faculty members David Frings and Larry Davenport has brought attention to a rare species of carnivorous plant thriving in an unexpected corner of Alabama.

Frings, assistant director of the Master of Science in Environmental Management program, and Davenport, retired professor from the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, recently authored an article in the Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas documenting their discovery of a large population of Drosera rotundifolia, commonly known as the roundleaf sundew, in Winston County.

Known to grow predominantly in colder climates of the Northern Hemisphere, Drosera rotundifolia is considered rare in the Southeast. According to Frings and Davenport, the colony they located, nestled on a moss-covered sandstone bluff in the Sipsey Wilderness, represents the southernmost known population of this species in North America.

“The roundleaf sundew is actually a very common species in cooler regions, but this Alabama population represents a microclimate disjunct habitat,” Frings said. “These habitats are important for scientists to find and study because they provide hope for the survival of rare plants and animals.”

The thriving colony, which Frings and Davenport estimate includes more than 2,000 individual plants, was visited in July 2024 after more than a decade of field surveys. The research was inspired by a photograph shared online by local naturalist Leitha Lee, who helped lead the researchers to the remote site.

“Larry and I searched for populations of Drosera rotundifolia for more than ten years, each day hoping to find a few plants surviving in the wilds of Alabama,” Frings said. “When we finally saw this population nestled deep in this canyon, we were ecstatic—more than 2,000 plants before our eyes!”

The article, “Recent Discovery of a Significant Population of Drosera rotundifolia in Northwest Alabama,” is available in the 2025 issue of the Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.

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极乐禁地 is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, 极乐禁地 is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. 极乐禁地 enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. 极乐禁地 fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.