Carnivorous Plants
Carnivorous plants are plants that capture, kill, and digest animal organisms. Since carnivorous plants usually live in areas where the soil quality is poor, they must supplement their diets with nutrients gained from digesting insects. These plants have developed specialized leaves that work to lure and then trap unsuspecting insects.
There are several genera of carnivorous plants and hundreds of carnivorous plant species. Here are some of my favorite genera of carnivorous plants:
Nephentes – A Carnivorous plant, Nepenthes are native primarily to the Malaysian region, India and Australia. They form wonderful hanging pitchers that are sure to attract attention.
Also Known as Tropical Pitcher Plants, Monkey Cups.
Dionaea muscipula , also know as Venus Flytrap, is probably the most well known of the carnivorous plants. Insects are lured into the mouth-like leaves by nectar. Once an insect enters the trap it touches tiny hairs on the leaves. This sends impulses through the plant triggering the leaves to close. Glands located in the leaves release enzymes that digest the prey and the nutrients are absorbed by the leaves.
But hey, what´s the real definition of a Carnivore plant?
Generally speaking carnivorous plants are found in wet peatland areas, devoid of the nutrients found in soil required for normal growth. As a result such plants have developed means of capturing and digesting insects to provide the nutrients they require.
The term carnivorous (meaning flesh eating) when applied to plants, usually conjures up images of plant like monsters devouring everything they come across. This perception is usually the result of the imagination of science fiction writers and their portrayal of mankind being consumed by unstoppable hordes of carnivorous plants.
This could not be further from the truth as far as human beings are concerned, but on smaller scale they are quite efficient traps capable of destroying substantial numbers of insects. However science fiction writers have probably done more to publicise the fact that such plants do exist and consequently increase public interest in them.
How do they work?
The means employed by various species to attract and capture the insects is varied, but they can be simply divided into one of two classifications, passive and active traps.
Active traps use movement to aid capture and digestion of their prey, probably the most well known example is the Venus Fly Trap. This is perhaps the most dramatic example because it is so immediate and visible. Other species of plant, notably Utricularia are just as dramatic, however because the trap is below ground level and relatively small (no greater than 5mm) it does not hold the same fascination.
Passive traps rely on the insect being enticed within the trap from which it then finds it cannot escape, these are typically pitfall traps such as Darlingtonia and Sarracenia. These can vary tremendously in size from the 1 metre tall Sarracenia’s to the small (3 cm) slipper like trap of Cephalotus. The tall Sarracenia’s are very efficient traps capable of capturing hundreds of insects within a season, often the traps becoming so overfull that insects are able to simply to fly out of the trap.
Are carnivorous plants used in any “western medicines” or pharmaceuticals?
However, as far as I know, carnivorous plants have not been used in mainstream medicines.
There is a compound (“Sarapin”) based upon an extract of Sarracenia purpurea that some claim can reduce neuromuscular or neuralgic pain. However, this drug (and “prolotherapy”, its method of application) is not quite mainstream medical practice. For what it is worth, Aetna does not consider Sarapin or prolotherapy legitimate enough to cover in its health plans.
Some carnivorous plants such as Dionaea and Drosera contain naphthoquinones, and these may have some therapeutic value. Unfortunately, these chemicals have a high toxicity and this limits their curative values. I am not a medical doctor, so do not email me questions about this issue.
Vegetarians can eat carnivorous plants?
Carnivorous plants are not edibles. So never try to eat them, besides those plants has partly digested animals inside.
There are over 600 species of Carnivorous Plants around the world – found on every continent – in order of decreasing diversity
A. North America
B. Central and South America
C. Australia
D. Malaysia
E. South Africa
F. Eurasia – Japan – India
Habitat and behavior
A. they typically grow in sunny, moist, nutrient-poor soils, often associated with frequent fire
B. They can grow in nutrient-poor sites, and thereby avoid competition from other plants,
C. by supplementing their nutritional needs with insect prey
D. studies have shown that they especially take phosphorous from their prey
In eastern North Carolina are more different kinds of Carnivorous Plants than anywhere else in the world!
A. Centered on the Green Swamp Nature Preserve in Brunswick Co
B. Wet meadows called savannas, and longleaf pinelands – these burn periodically
wow those pictures are incredible. Any other advice for taking good pictures of my growing carnivorous plants? How do you capture the colours so effectively?
where can i get 1!