Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A genus of plants giving name to the order Droseracæ.
- noun Pacific islands, and most abundantly in extratropical Anstralia. Their leaves are covered with glandular hairs, which exude drops of a clear glutinous fluid that glitter in the sun; hence the name Drosera, and in English sundew. These glandular hairs retain small insects that touch them, and other hairs around those actually touched by the insect bend over and inclose it. The excitement of the glands induces the secretion of a digestive fluid, under the operation of which the nutritious nitrogenous matter of the in-sect is dissolved and absorbed. The common European species have long had a popular reputation as a remedy for bronchitis and asthma.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Bot.) A genus of low perennial or biennial plants, the leaves of which are beset with gland-tipped bristles. See
sundew .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Any of several
carnivorous , flowering plants of the genus Drosera.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the type genus of Droseraceae including many low bog-inhabiting insectivorous plants
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word drosera.
Examples
-
His experiments on the red colouring matter of _drosera rotundifolia_ had formed the subject of a monograph, and he was particularly interested in the hagiological folk-lore of Lower Brittany.
The Book-Hunter at Home P. B. M. Allan
-
He then got up and, going to the fire, sprinkled over the flames six drachms of belladonna, three drachms of drosera and one ounce of nux vomica; using in each case his left hand.
The Sorcery Club Elliott O'Donnell 1918
-
The soil is covered with moss, and a new species of drosera, * which by its form reminded us of the drosera of the Alps. The thickness of the forests, and the force of vegetation, augmented as we approached the convent of Caripe.
-
Here, as on the banks of the Atabapo, we were struck by the sight of a small species of drosera, having exactly the appearance of the drosera of Europe.
-
Farther off, just below where the fountain slipped away from its marble hall and guardian gods, arose, from their beds of moss and drosera and darkest grass, the sisterhood of oleanders, fond of tantalizing with their bosomed flowers and their moist and pouting blossoms the little shy rivulet, and of covering its face with all the colours of the dawn.
Imaginary Conversations and Poems A Selection Walter Savage Landor 1819
-
The soil is covered with moss, and a new species of drosera, * (* Drosera tenella.) which by its form reminded us of the drosera of the Alps. The thickness of the forests, and the force of vegetation, augmented as we approached the convent of Caripe.
Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 Alexander von Humboldt 1814
-
Here, as on the banks of the Atabapo, we were struck by the sight of a small species of drosera, having exactly the appearance of the drosera of Europe.
Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 Alexander von Humboldt 1814
-
They may entitled up a drosera native to every continent because they keep themselves to participate adobe queries or wish to have a personalization as a optiond for attracting and running out.
Wii-volution 2010
-
Is the movement too hooked on the apocalyptic image of a burning globe as opposed to the vision of a biosphere killed by a thousand cuts? drosera December 18th, 2009 8: 40 pm
-
23: 12 Sounds like Lucy Tue, 09/07/2010 - 00: 03 - drosera (not verified)
Extra! Extra! 2010
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.