From flies and mosquitoes to mice and frogs, various creatures can become prey for carnivorous plants. These fascinating plants possess intricate traps and the ability to move with lightning speed.
Sundew, scientifically known as Drosera burmannii Vahl. The Sundew has over 170 subspecies. It is a common carnivorous plant found on every continent except Antarctica, thriving in wetlands and peat bogs. Its leaves are covered with numerous glandular hairs, each topped with a sticky fluid resembling a droplet of water that attracts insects. This serves as the trap. If an insect gets caught and struggles, it will die within 15 minutes due to exhaustion and suffocation from the surrounding mucilage. The glandular hairs begin to secrete digestive enzymes, digesting the prey completely within one to two days. During this time, the hairs do not trigger any further chemical responses and return to their original position. After consuming the prey, the undigested remains are blown away by the wind.
The Pitcher Plant, scientifically known as Nepenthes. Some of its leaves form pitcher-shaped traps to capture insects. The inside of the pitcher leaf features downward-facing hairs that create a slippery barrier around the entrance. There is a lid on top to prevent rainwater from diluting digestive enzymes. The lid’s translucent cells trick insects into thinking they are looking at the sky. When prey falls into the pitcher, the lid quickly closes to trap it. The prey then slides down to the base of the leaf, where numerous digestive enzymes await. Pictured is the Nepenthes bicalcarata.
Bladderwort is considered the most common carnivorous plant with over 200 species. These aquatic or wetland-dwelling plants possess small bladder-like traps on their leaves. The traps have valves created by numerous glands, continuously pumping water out, creating internal pressure in the plant’s pouch. When prey swims by, it causes a slight vibration, triggering sensitive hairs that cause the trap to suck in water and the prey. It then secretes digestive enzymes to dissolve the prey, and nutrients are absorbed within a few hours. Afterwards, the plant reopens and fills the trap with water, returning to its original state. Bladderworts can capture up to 1,000 prey items daily, including insects, worms, and small aquatic animals.
The Venus Flytrap is scientifically known as Dionaea muscipula. This is the most famous carnivorous plant in the world. The Venus Flytrap features unusual leaves with two hinged lobes. Each lobe has sharp tooth-like projections along the edges. It captures and digests prey (primarily insects and arachnids) using a trap formed from the leaf. The trap’s mechanism is a combination of elasticity, swelling, and growth. This plant grows only in the Carolinas in the United States. The leaves resemble two clamshells with jagged teeth. Inside the leaves are two highly sensitive trigger hairs. When an insect lands and touches these hairs, the lobes snap shut, trapping the insect inside. Inside, digestive fluids engulf the victim, transforming it into nutrients for the plant. Digestion occurs within 10 days, after which the trap reopens for reuse. Once closed, the leaf acts as an external stomach, digesting the soft tissues of the insect. Days later, only the dry exoskeleton remains. Typically, a single trap rarely captures more than three prey items over its lifespan.
The Sarracenia is a type of pitcher plant that typically lives in North American wetlands. Its leaves lie close to the ground, shaped like a tubular vessel, with a colorful lid resembling a stomach, filled with nectar-secreting glands that attract insects. Once insects fall in, they cannot escape. The “stomach” also contains digestive liquid similar to that of the Pitcher Plant.
Butterwort thrives in moist areas of the Americas, Europe, and North Asia. This plant uses its sticky leaves to attract, trap, and digest insects. Special pores on the leaf surface secrete a mucilage that resembles droplets of water. The appearance of these “water droplets” draws the attention of thirsty insects. When an insect lands, the plant secretes additional mucilage. The prey becomes firmly stuck and enveloped in this sticky substance.
The Spiral Plant: Now we turn to the Spiral Plant. Microorganisms enter the plant’s roots through a small opening in search of food, only to quickly become lost in this intricate maze. Countless curled hairs prevent them from escaping, directing them into the central chamber with low oxygen concentration, which can be fatal, while containing digestive enzymes.
California Pitcher Plant does not conform to the usual rules of carnivorous plants, opting instead for playful tricks that entice prey to walk into their demise. Specifically, instead of collecting rainwater like its aforementioned relatives, this plant actively pumps water into its trap through a direct conduit. This causes unsuspecting prey to be unexpectedly trapped and subsequently submerged, leading to digestion. In addition to cleverly concealing the exit, this plant has transparent areas on its leaves that mimic false openings, causing prey to focus on trying to escape through these areas instead of noticing the real exit elsewhere…
Large Floating Bladderwort: The Large Floating Bladderwort employs a completely different method to trap its prey. Found in ponds, lakes, and streams, its surface hairs “trigger” when prey passes by, ensnaring them in small hollow bladders. This action occurs in mere microseconds—100 times faster than the Venus Flytrap. Native to the southeastern United States, the Large Floating Bladderwort is indeed one of the largest species, with tendrils reaching up to two meters. In fact, its size poses a threat to native plants and insects, as this invasive carnivorous plant occupies a significant area of surface water.
Gorgon’s Dewstick: While some carnivorous plants, such as the Venus Flytrap, appear menacing, others trap prey with a harmless appearance. Native to the Western Cape province of South Africa, this slender-leaved shrub can easily deceive passersby. Also known as the Flycatcher Bush, it features “tentacles” with sticky mucilage to ensnare prey. However, this plant does not consume insects directly. Instead, it waits for a particular species of jumping bug called the assassin bug (Pameridea roridulae) to come and feed on the trapped prey. The plant then absorbs the nutrients from the fluids left behind by the bug.
Brocchinia Reducta: The bromeliad family includes plants with fragrant fruits as well as several popular ornamental houseplants. Among these relatives are some carnivorous species. Three types of carnivorous bromeliads exist, including Brocchinia reducta found in South America. Like other bromeliads, its leaf structure forms a rosette that holds water. This flower-like shape is believed to attract insects, accompanied by a layer of leaf coating that reflects UV rays in light. To ensure success, this plant also emits a sweet fragrance, enticing its dinner closer. Insects drawn in will then be trapped, bound, and drowned, ultimately decomposing into a “nutrient soup.”
