Q: Carnivorous plants of the arctic--survivors in the chilly north!
U. minor
P. macroceras
D. rotundifolia
A: While the arctic is a challenging habitat to survive in, it does provide a vast area of
relatively uniform conditions for any organism able to adapt to it. A number of carnivorous plants have adapted to the far north,
and they occur over great ranges. They are referred to as circumboreal species, since they are found around the globe
("circum") in cold ("boreal") climates.
Species from three genera are contenders for being the farthest-north carnivorous plants. I do not have more precise answers for
you than I have given below---sorry!
Drosera
The species Drosera rotundifolia and Drosera anglica occur at extreme northerly
latitudes in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Pinguicula
The species Pinguicula villosa occurs far to the north
in Europe, Asia, and North America.
There are other butterworts with far-northern populations, including Pinguicula alpina,
P. macroceras and especially P. vulgaris.
Utricularia
A number of hibernaculum-forming species occur far north, including
Utricularia vulgaris, U. macrorhiza,
U. intermedia, U. ochroleuca, U. stygia, and
U. minor. My guess is that U. minor might be the most northerly
of the bunch.
Page citations: Rice, B.A. 2006a; Taylor, P. 1989; personal observation.
