Drosera capensis

Let’s explore a carnivorous plant: the Sundew! Look closely at the photos below. What do you notice? How do you think this plant has adapted to survive in its environment?

Green leaves covered in thin red growths. The red growths have liquid on the tips. — Drosera capensis

Scientific Name: Dionaea muscipula (DIE-oh-NAY-uh MUH-skip-oo-luh)

Family: Droseraceae

Common Name: Venus Fly Trap

Range: North Carolina

Plant with long leaves. The leaves have red growths with liquid on the tips.

Green leaves covered in thin red growths. The red growths have liquid on the tips. One of the leaves has something stuck to many of the red growths.

Drosera capensis

Watch this video to look at the plant in a new way!

Questions & Prompts

What do you observe?

What do you wonder?
Imagine touching this plant. What would it feel like? Do you think different parts of the plant feel different?
If you could ask this plant one question, what would you ask?
This plant’s common name (or nickname) is Cape Sundew. Why do you think people chose this common name? What common name (or nickname) would you give to this plant? Why?
What do you think would happen to this plant if it were transplanted to a desert? Why do you think that?

Creative Prompts

What colors do you see on this plant? Do you see any of these greens? Can you recreate these colors using art supplies?
Be an engineer! Study the adaptations that help this plant survive in a nutrient-poor environment. Create an invention to help people survive nutrient-poor environments. Your invention should use the same features this plant uses. What does your invention do? Is your invention sustainable?
Be an artist! Create an abstract artwork based on this plant’s features. When you’re done, write a label for your artwork.
Be an artist! Create a pattern artwork based on a plant part pattern you see. When you’re done, write a label for your artwork.
Be an artist! Create a work of botanical art for this plant.
Write from the perspective of an insect encountering this plant. What do they think? What do they notice? What do they do?

Video with Shawn Lyons

Did Shawn talk about anything you observed?

Did Shawn answer any questions you had?

What new questions do you have after listening to Shawn?

In what sort of environment do you think this plant lives? Draw a picture or write a descriptive paragraph to help people understand the Sundew’s environment and what the Sundew needs to survive.

Resources and References

Huntington database https://huntingtonbg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/attachmentviewer/index.html?appid=5c77c325bab7412ca95c9187d430491c&center=-118.1147%2C34.1287&level=14&attachmentIndex=0&selectedLayerId=Plant_Database_7848&defaultObjectId=14

“Drosera Capensis.” n.d. Accessed June 7, 2021. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279902&isprofile=0&cv.

“Drosera Capensis L.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed June 7, 2021. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:321806-1.

Drosera capensis

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