D. burmannii vs D. sessilifolia

[Calyx]

Greetings! I've managed to finalize the differences between the two species after growing both of these wonderful species for a several months now.

Differences:

1. Seedlings of Sessilifolia appear to germinate much more quickly (1-2 weeks). I have sowed fresh Burmanii seeds and they take at least 3 weeks or to germinate

2. Growth of burmanii seedlings grow much more rapidly than Sessilifolia seedlings. On the pictures attached, the burmanii seedlings are much younger (2 weeks from germination) than the 2 month old Sessilifolia seedlings but are considerably bigger and less compact

3. Size: Overall diameter of D. burmanii is around 1-2 cm longer than sessilifolia at optimal conditions. Biggest D. burmanii I have is 6 cm long.

4. Flower stalk length and number of flower buds (no pictures). Average length of D. burmanii slower stalk length is roughly 18-24 cm, whlie D. sessilifolia is roughly 8-10 cm long. Number of flower buds produced by D. burmanii is MUCH more numerous as well. D. sessilifolia produces roughly 8-10 flower buds while D. burmanii is at least triple that amount.

5. Leaf morphology - Petioles on D. sessilifolia are much broader and shorter than D. burmanii. Adults on D. burmanii have a very triangular shape while D. sessilifolia has a more spoon-like shape

6. Leaf color- Under intense light, None of my D. sessilifolia plants have been able to turn red. At the very most, they've turned a dark yellow color. On the other hand, D. burmanii is very easy to turn red or light red or pink with the proper light intensity.

7. Type 1 and Type 2 (Snap tentacle) - D. sessilifolia Type 1 tentacles have a transparent base with a red or pink tip. Their Type 2 or snap tentacles have a deep red color. D. burmanii has transparent Type 1 tentacles and transparent or VERY light red Type 2 tentacles. D. burmanii juveniles may have a deeper redder color on their Type 2 tentacles. Some D. burmanii variants (e.g. Pilliga Red) are said to have deep red type 2 tentacles but I cannot verify from experience.

8. Pups - This was a surprising finding for me. I've just noticed that D. sessilifolia is able to make pups at the base of the plant. I have not witnessed this with D. burmanii. These are not seedlings as I've been collecting D. sessilifolia seeds quite aggressively.

9. Prey capacity - D. sessilifolia can handle much less prey items compared to D. burmanii. I've lost several D. sessilifolia due to mold build up from fish flakes. D. sessilifolia is very susceptible to mold due to it's compact nature. As the plant gets older, it becomes less and less susceptible to mold. I have had no problems with mold with the D. burmanii species.

Other FAQ:
Q. Do sundew leaves turn green again once fed?
A. No. There are posts from other forums stating that when D. Burmanii is fed, it turns green. This is not true. It is purely from light intensity and the presence of UV radiation in your light setup. My sundews catch a ton of fungus gnats and they don’t turn green. I have also seeds from the Hann River and I have managed to turn them almost pure red due to the light intensity.

Q: Can I use flower color as an indicator between the two species?
A. No. I've seen white and pink flowers between both species

Q: Can I use the scape shape of the flower stalk between the two species?
A. No. As far as I've seen, scape shape is influenced when new leaves press down on the flower stalk influencing the shape. In my opinion, the only reason why most people record D. burmanii having an L shape scape is due to the plant producing leaves so rapidly that it quickly presses or bends the flower stalk into an L shape. While D. sessilifolia has the propensity to come out straight, as the individual gets older the leaves interfere with the flower stalk coming off straight and it bends into an L similar to D. burmanii.

Pictures:

D. burmanii seedlings 2 weeks old

D. sessilifolia 2 months old

D. burmanii

D. sessilifolia

D. burmanii

D. sessilifolia. Note the pups underneath the main plant. Seedlings are scattered over to the peripheries.

D. sessilifolia. Note the pups underneath the main plant. Seedlings are scattered over to the peripheries.

D. burmanii outcompeting D. capillaris

D. sessilifolia

D. sessilifolia

 

[WillyCKH]

Some people say that D. burmannii and D. sessilifolia are the same, I don't agree because the differences are quite noticeable.
Beside the locations that they come from, from my experiences, D. sessilifolia tend to grow smaller than D. burmannii when they are fully matured.

 

[WillyCKH]

Here are two that have similar golden-red coloration, see the perlite for size reference!

Drosera sessilifolia {Chapada dos Guimaraes}

Drosera burmannii "Pilliga Red"

 

[Calyx]

Some people say that D. burmannii and D. sessilifolia are the same, I don't agree because the differences are quite noticeable.
Beside the locations that they come from, from my experiences, D. sessilifolia tend to grow smaller than D. burmannii when they are fully matured.

Beautiful pictures! Damn I really should get a proper camera, haha.

Currently, I agree. Even as juveniles, the differences are already quite noticeable. I can't wait to see these guys fully mature! IMO, I think much of the confusion comes from some batches of seeds that contain sessilifolia x burmanii hybrids. Currently, I'd say the slender petiole of the burmanii is the best indicator. This is especially more evident when it starts to flower and leaves deform

 

[Calyx]

Hello everyone! Just finalized the difference between the two species. It's been a truly fun experience working with these two species. I hope that this post helps those who may not have access to verified sources selling D. sessilifolia seeds as it seems they are harder to come by.

 

[Raymond Chong]

Just sowing some D. burmannii seeds. Hoping to get some D. sessilifolia in the future.

 

[Calyx]

Just sowing some D. burmannii seeds. Hoping to get some D. sessilifolia in the future.

You’ll love them!

 

[WillyCKH]

In case anyone is interested, here are two microscopic photos of their seeds...

Drosera sessilifolia {Chapada dos Guimaraes} seeds

Drosera burmannii {Hann River}

 

[coconut]

Hi can you help to ID the green dew is a sessifolia ? I attach the picture of Drosera burmannii , the red one ...

 

[Les serres de Paolo Inc.]

D. sessilifolia leaves tend to tilt so less flat and more compact. When you look at the plant sideway, it grows higher and leaves are curling down.

 

[coconut]

Hi, what criteria used to ID drosera bumannii red v/s green ? ID of these in picture ?

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

Nice 'n dewy.

 

[Stini]

I went through the same thing. I have both. came across this web page. helped out . im sure most have seen it but sharing.

https://www.carnivorousplants.org/grow/guides/Dburmannii_Dsessilifolia

 

[coconut]

Hi, I am trouble to ID this one, please help... Is it a green burmannii or a sessilifolia ?
I sowed sessilifolia seeds' in this pot some time ago...

 

[stevebradford]

Looks like Drosera burmannii to me from my limited experience.

D. burmannii vs D. sessilifolia

Greetings! I've managed to finalize the differences between the two species after growing both of these wonderful species for a several months now. Differences: 1. Seedlings of Sessilifolia appear to germinate much more quickly (1-2 weeks). I have sowed fresh Burmanii seeds and they take at...

www.carnivorousplantsociety.ca

 

[coconut]

After reading Calyx post (Oct 2020), I think that this one is drosera sessilifolia. Any thought anyone ? It looks very similar to the picture of Calyx

 

[Calyx]

Hi, I am trouble to ID this one, please help... Is it a green burmannii or a sessilifolia ?
I sowed sessilifolia seeds' in this pot some time ago...
View attachment 28100View attachment 28101View attachment 28102

Hey there! Sorry for the late reply, I haven’t been able indulge in my hobby in awhile. I would say that looking at the length of the flower buds the stalk length, and overall diameter of an adult plant is your best bet (please see thread).

Based on your pictures, I agree with you. They look like D. sessifolia. although I can’t be 100% certain as I’ve grown them on more intense light. I am taking into account the length of flower stalk in your picture as well.

Another thing you can do is place your sessifolia on more intense light. When I was growing mine, I was not able to turn the leaves past a yellow colour unlike the burmanii where I was able to turn the leaves red.

*edit

One last thing I need to preface was that I had grown the "giant" form of burmanii where I was growing them that ranged from 4-6 cm as adults. These were seeds from Willy from the Hann River. I assume that there are smaller variants/cultivars of burmanii (the wikipedia page lists them only growing as 2 cm in diameter!) but can't say from experience if there are truly smaller varieties of burmanii or people were simply taking pictures of their juvenile forms or suboptimal growing conditions. Maybe others can chime in with growing the other varieties but I at least haven't seen burmanii be smaller than 3-6 cm. I've attached a juvenile burmanii that hitchhiked on a D. capensis alba pot. It is 3cm in diameter.

D. burmanii. Around 2 months old after I noticed it germinating. 3 cm in diameter

Reference picture

Hope this helps!

 

[coconut]

Hey there! Sorry for the late reply, I haven’t been able indulge in my hobby in awhile. I would say that looking at the length of the flower buds the stalk length, and overall diameter of an adult plant is your best bet (please see thread).

Based on your pictures, I agree with you. They look like D. sessifolia. although I can’t be 100% certain as I’ve grown them on more intense light. I am taking into account the length of flower stalk in your picture as well.

Another thing you can do is place your sessifolia on more intense light. When I was growing mine, I was not able to turn the leaves past a yellow colour unlike the burmanii where I was able to turn the leaves red.

*edit

One last thing I need to preface was that I had grown the "giant" form of burmanii where I was growing them that ranged from 4-6 cm as adults. These were seeds from Willy from the Hann River. I assume that there are smaller variants/cultivars of burmanii (the wikipedia page lists them only growing as 2 cm in diameter!) but can't say from experience if there are truly smaller varieties of burmanii or people were simply taking pictures of their juvenile forms or suboptimal growing conditions. Maybe others can chime in with growing the other varieties but I at least haven't seen burmanii be smaller than 3-6 cm. I've attached a juvenile burmanii that hitchhiked on a D. capensis alba pot. It is 3cm in diameter.

View attachment 29423
D. burmanii. Around 2 months old after I noticed it germinating. 3 cm in diameter

View attachment 29424
Reference picture

Hope this helps!

Thanks +++

 

[coconut]

Update...
@Calyx
Just took the pictures...
The same '' D. sessilifolia '' as above, is turning red, next to D. burmannii. My other D. sessilifolia refuses to go red !!! They all are in same growth conditions.

 

[jamespmurdoch]

can i get an ID on this little invader now that they’re flowering? showed up in my capensis pot that i bought from the garden centre 6 months ago.