Plants occupy one of the five kingdoms of life. Plants usually make their own food and are immovable (not considering on growth) but have you ever thought of plants which are carnivorous. Yes, you read it right – Carnivorous plants. These are also called Insectivorous plants. The famous British naturalist Charles Darwin has published a book, Insectivorous plants on 2nd July 1875 in London. Carnivorous plants obtain most of their nutrients from its prey. They feed typically on insects and other arthropods. The unique characteristic of these plants to grow in thin soil acidic bogs and rock outcroppings and their ability to thrive in nitrogen deficient environment makes them different from another plant species.
True carnivore has originated independently in five different orders of flowering plants and includes classification of at least 583 species. They entice, decoy and kill their prey by absorbing available nutrients. There are 5 trapping mechanisms found: Pitfall traps, Flypaper traps, Snap traps, Bladder traps and Lobster-pot traps. I would like to show you 10 genera of these carnivorous plants species:
Carnivorous Plants
1. Nepenthes Hamata
Nepenthes Hamata is a tropical pitcher plant in Sulawesi. This plant is characterized by an internal chamber, pitfall traps which attract prey with nectar bribes within the pitcher. The linings of these pitcher plants are coated with wax flakes which make it slippery for insects to fall into the pitcher. Within the pitcher, digestive enzymes are secreted to break down the prey into an absorbable form for the plant.
2. Roridula Gorgonias
Roridula gorgonias is a protocarnivorous plant native of South Africa. This plant secretes mucilage, an adhesive substance to trap insects is extremely sticky, long lasting and water tolerant. These plants cultivate symbiotic insects within them which aids in digesting the prey to receive its nutrients.
3. Venus Flytrap
Dionaea is a carnivorous plant which grows on the East coast of the United States in North and South Carolina. This plant is structured to have a bulb like leaves which are covered with triggered hairs on their inner surfaces. The trap closes as soon as an insect or spider comes in contact with the hairs and secrets digestive enzyme to digest the prey. The trap reopens as soon as the digestion completes.
4. Utricularia Vulgaris
Utricularia also known to be the bladderworts. They grow in fresh water and wet soil around every continent except Antarctica. These carnivorous plants capture small organisms by means of bladder-like traps and generates a pressure from the interior to the exterior of the bladders as the water moves. As soon as the animal contacts the bristles at the surface of the door, the trap opens quickly and a gush of water sucks the prey inside. The door is closed and the animal is digested.
5. Darlingtonia Californica
Darlingtonia californica also was known as California Pitcher Plant or Cobra Lily and is found in Northern California and Oregon. The name Cobra Lily is derived because tubular leaves of this plant resemble a rearing cobra and forked leaf with that of serpent’s fangs. The specialized structures within the plant increase the chances of prey to enter the trap for finding food and fan like appendages have nectar glands which aid in the movement of the prey into the internal pitcher chamber for the plant to kill the prey and carry out its digestion process.
6. Drosera Rotundifolia
Drosera rotundifolia also was known as round-leaved sundew and is found across North America, Korea, and Japan. The leaves of this plants look like a rosette covered with mucilage, loaded with a sugary substance to attract the prey and secretes digestive enzymes to obtain nutrients. Additionally known as Sundews are carnivorous plants that are thick gluey goo called mucilage to trap and digest their prey. The species has at least 188 species and found everywhere on the globe except Antarctica. There are few years that can grow upto two or more years, however, rest can grow for only one year and reproduce by seed.
7. Byblis
Byblis commonly called as Rainbow plants and usually grow in Western Australia. The surface of the leaves of these species is covered with glandular hairs and secrets mucilage substance to attract the prey. These leaves are secrets digestive enzymes because they are equipped with sessile glands.
0 Comments