sundew

American  

[suhn-doo, -dyoo] / ˈsʌnˌdu, -ˌdyu /

noun

1. any of several small, carnivorous bog plants of the genus Drosera, having sticky hairs that trap insects.

---

sundew British  

/ ˈsʌnˌdjuː /

noun

1. any of several bog plants of the genus Drosera, having leaves covered with sticky hairs that trap and digest insects: family Droseraceae

---

Etymology

Origin of sundew

1570–80; < Dutch sondauw (compare German Sonnentau ), translation of Latin rōs sōlis dew of the sun

Example Sentences

He compared the glistening and gothically tentacled sundew plant, or Drosera, to a “most sagacious animal” and said, “I will stick up for Drosera to the day of my death.”

From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2015

With stems reaching five feet long, Drosera magnifica practically qualifies for a turn on “Little Shop of Horrors” and is the largest sundew species in the Americas.

From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2015

After seeing photographs of the plant posted by an amateur naturalist on Facebook, the researchers traveled to the specified location, on a lone mountain in southeastern Brazil, and confirmed the sundew was new to science.

From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2015

Every participant will plant and take home a Venus flytrap or an albino cape sundew.

From New York Times • Jul. 2, 2015

Vrosera, also called sundew, fascinated Charles for its carnivorous eating habits.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman