Sundew

South American Sundew, Drosera

A carnivorous plant of the Drosera genus, Sundews can be found on all continents with the exception of Antarctica. Although a preference for wet habitats such as bogs, the sundew can also be found on sandy banks and other soils poor in nitrogen and phosphorus. After ensnaring prey, the sundew curls its prey to the spoon-shaped leaves. A few species may hurl insects into the sticky dew with additional tentacles. It can take at minimum four days to digest the prey, but collectively sundews can trap over six million insects within a 0.008 km² (2 acre) area.

While this dew plays an important role in capturing prey to obtain the nutrient otherwise lacking in the soil, it also plays a role in research. The sticky, biodegradable dew is a possible candidate in the field of  tissue engineering. With its highly elastic nature and high biocompatibility, it could also prove useful for other biomedical applications.