By Chisom Ibemere
Carnivorous plants also known as insectivorous plants are a group of plants with special features that help them thrive in a nutrient poor environment. They have evolved to capture and digest small animals, mainly insects, in order to supplement their nutrient intake.
They have developed various mechanisms to trap and consume their prey. Below are unique carnivores plants you should take not of.
Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) with its specialized leaves snap shut when triggered by prey. It has tiny sensory hairs on the leaves that detect the movement of insects.
Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes spp.) also have a modified leaves forming a pitcher-like structure filled with digestive fluids. Insects are lured into the pitcher and digested by the plant.
Sundews (Drosera spp.) have leaves covered in sticky hairs that trap insects. The hairs then bend towards the prey and release digestive enzymes to break it down.
Bladderwort (Utricularia spp.) have small bladder-like structures that work as suction traps. They suck in small aquatic organisms triggered by tiny hairs, digesting them with enzymes.
Butterwort (Pinguicula spp.) is made up of sticky leaves with glands that trap and digest insects. They exude enzymes to break down the prey.
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Waterwheel Plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa) is an aquatic plant that trap leaves and close quickly when triggered by prey. It catches small aquatic organisms like water fleas or mosquito larvae.
Cobra Lily or (Darlingtonia californica) contains a pitcher-shaped leaves with a hooded structure resembling a cobra head. Insects enter the pitcher and get confused by the transparent windows, then fall into the digestive fluid at the bottom.
Tropical Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes rajah) is also believed to be the largest pitcher plant, it can grow pitchers big enough to trap small mammals and reptiles. It has a sweet scent and nectar to attract prey.
Venus Flytrap Waterwheel (Aldrovanda vesiculosa ‘Floating’) is composed of a combined characteristics of both the Venus Flytrap and Waterwheel Plant, featuring underwater snap traps for catching prey.
Corkscrew Plant (Genlisea spp.) is a carnivorous plant with an underground traps and a complex root system. It captures tiny aquatic organisms, mainly protozoa and nematodes, in its underground chambers.
Triantha occidentalis is a carnivorous plant that is native to North America. It forms sticky and glandular hairs on its leaves to capture smaller terrestrial arthropods.
13. Byblis (Byblis spp.) have leaves lined with sticky tentacles to ensnare small insects. They rely on mucilage rather than digestive enzymes to break down the prey.
These carnivorous plants, have unique adaptations to capture and digest prey.
