Sundew Quiz: Sticky Tentacles and Curling Leaves

This sundew quiz sparkles in the boggy sunshine where these tiny carnivorous plants grow. Play 10 interactive questions on tentacles tipped with sticky dew, insects lured by glistening drops, tentacles that bend inward, leaves that wrap around prey, enzymes that digest it, nutrient-poor bogs, species on every continent but Antarctica and Darwin's book.

Start Sundew Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Genus
What is the scientific genus of sundews?
Tips
What covers the tips of sundew tentacles?
Lure
Why are insects drawn to the drops?
Trap
What happens when an insect lands?
Curl
How do the tentacles respond?
Wrap
What can some sundew leaves do?
Digest
How is prey broken down?
Habitat
Where do many sundews grow?
Range
On how many continents do sundews grow?
Darwin
Who wrote a famous book on insect-eating plants including sundews?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What is the scientific genus of sundews?
Answer: Drosera
It has about 200 species.
Q2: What covers the tips of sundew tentacles?
Answer: Sticky drops
They glisten like dew.
Q3: Why are insects drawn to the drops?
Answer: They look like nectar or water
Sparkle attracts them.
Q4: What happens when an insect lands?
Answer: It sticks to the drops
Struggling makes it worse.
Q5: How do the tentacles respond?
Answer: They bend toward the prey
More tentacles join in.
Q6: What can some sundew leaves do?
Answer: Wrap around prey
It speeds digestion.
Q7: How is prey broken down?
Answer: With digestive enzymes
Nutrients are absorbed.
Q8: Where do many sundews grow?
Answer: Nutrient-poor bogs
Insects add nitrogen.
Q9: On how many continents do sundews grow?
Answer: Every continent except Antarctica
They are widespread.
Q10: Who wrote a famous book on insect-eating plants including sundews?
Answer: Charles Darwin
It was published in 1875.

Sticky Dew That Catches Insects

Sundews belong to the genus Drosera, with about 200 species growing on every continent except Antarctica. Their leaves are covered in tentacles tipped with sticky drops that glisten like dew, looking like nectar or water to insects.

When an insect lands, it sticks to the drops, and struggling only makes it more stuck. The tentacles bend toward the prey, and in some species the whole leaf wraps around it. Digestive enzymes break the insect down, and the plant absorbs the nutrients.

Many sundews grow in nutrient-poor bogs, where insects provide nitrogen the soil lacks. Charles Darwin studied sundews closely and described them in his 1875 book on insect-eating plants. Today they are popular, easy carnivorous plants for windowsills and bog gardens.

What This Quiz Teaches

Plant fans will enjoy these questions.

What sundews are
How they trap prey
How leaves respond
Where they grow
Who studied them

Did You Know?

Some sundews form small rosettes.
Cape sundews come from South Africa.
Flowers grow on tall stalks away from traps.
Fungus gnats are common prey.
Rainy days dilute the glue.