>I'd like to get started keying out some unknown rosetted _Drosera_
>which I have.
and
>So, do I ever have any chance at identifying this plant or do I have a mutt on
>>my hands?
There is a (rather) good source (i.e. the DIELS monograph) including a key.
The only drawback is, some additional species have been described since
1906 (ah yes, and the rather unimportant fact that some of us do not
understand Latin too well...).
Nevertheless, it is quite probable we will find out which species you have
if you manage to get flowers and seeds (prepare microscope or hand lens).
Without these it will be almost impossible, however.
As Andreas mentioned already, there are two candidates classified as weeds:
_D.capensis_ from S Africa is easily recognizable having ascending stems
with distinctly petiolate and stipulate leaves and a lamina much longer
than wide. The flowering scape is glandular-hairy. The indumentum of the
plant is neither woolly nor rust-brown. The only species this can be
confused with is _D.ramentacea_ (cultivated much less frequently)
distinguished by rust-brown indumentum to the petioles.
_D.spatulata_ from E Asia, Australia, and New Zealand (this time I didn't
forget you!) is much more of a problem. Here, you urgently need flowers
(and seeds) to be sure. The scape is glabrous or minutely glandular
puberulent. The best distinguishing feature of this species being the style
branches (3 basally split styles => 6 branches) which are thickened basally
and rather acute at the apex. The seeds are ovoid with the testa (seed
coat) not prolonged beyond the embryo and not papillate. The leaves are not
very diagnostic with +/- distinct petiole and a spathulate to orbicular
lamina. Stipules are present. This species can be confused with a whole lot
of others. If you do not have inflorescences, the plant may even be a
seedling, further increasing the number of possibilities considerably.
As a rule, forget flower colour! This is generally not suitable for species
identification in _Drosera_.
So you should first make sure you do not have one of the species mentioned
above. If this is the case, send a description (especially of indumentum,
style-stigma morphology and seed structure) as detailed as possible to this
list or to my private email address, and we shall try to find out which
species you have. This kind of interactive keying is the most promising
approach at the moment as a comprehensive (my?) key is not yet published
(yes Barry, it is in preparation, but I still have to check some
details...).
Kind regards and happy growing
Jan