Oct 10, 2023
Amid all that serenity, there is a slew of carnivorous specimens that not only consume flesh but also use innovative and predatory means to ensnare their prey. These plants live in extreme habitats where the soil generally lacks nutrients and hence, turn to other sources. The incredible world of carnivorous plants is worth exploring.
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One of the most famous carnivorous plants, this iconic bug-munching member of the sundew family is far more fascinating than you can imagine. The leaf features a jaw-like section, rimmed with spiny 'teeth' along the edge, along with highly sensitive hair. When an insect makes contact with the hair, the trap snaps shut. The plant can even identify non-prey touch, such as raindrops.
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Because of their shape, these plants are known as pitcher plants. They use modified leaves that form a tube-like structure to attract insects, then trap and digest them.
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Found in ponds, lakes and streams, bladderworts use entirely different methods to capture their prey. The 'trigger' hair on the surface of its 'bladders' is tripped when prey floats by. As the bladder opens, water rushes in, bringing the prey in with it.
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Pinguicula, commonly known as butterworts, is a genus of carnivorous flowering plants that are famous for their flowers pollinated by hummingbirds. The leaves of these plants are covered in short sticky hair that secrete enzymes and acids that can dissolve and degrade their prey.
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This member of the pitcher plant family is named so because of its striking resemblance to the rearing head of a cobra. It uses nectar to attract unsuspecting insects. Unlike other predatory plants, the cobra lily produces bacteria to break down the prey for absorption.
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Sundews get their name from the shimmering of the sticky secretions that cover the hair protruding from leaves. Unlike many pitcher plants, these plants respond actively to touch. The hair-like tentacles reach out for the insect once any contact is sensed.
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A member of the pitcher plant group, monkey cup got the name as primates have been observed drinking from the leaves when thirsty. This is one of the largest flesh-eating plants on the planet. It has a whopping size, growing up to six metres in length, meaning the diet is not simply reserved for invertebrates. Frogs, lizards, birds and even rats have been lured inside, where they are dissolved in acid.
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Found in the southern part of the United States of America, the yellow pitcher plant is a striking example of the pitcher plant family. Insects are drawn by their vibrant colour as well as by nectar that also contains a toxin that incapacitates them. The walls of the tube ensure the prey slides to the base where digestive fluids soon dispatch them.
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