Plants that kill!

In some locations where other sources of nutrients are scarce, such as bogs, some plants have developed the ability to capture and digest insects. This allows them to live and thrive in habitats that are hostile to most other kinds of plants. Like other plants, they also use photosynthesis to capture the sun's energy.

These plants have developed a variety of methods of capturing their prey. Since plants are typically not mobile but insects are, these plants must trap and subdue their food. Some may secrete chemicals that produce odours which lure their victims in. The plants often secrete enzymes to assist in converting the trapped prey into nutrients.

The purple pitcher plant uses a pitfall trap where insects tumble into a tube formed by the leaves and are unable to get out because hairs that point downward into the trap prevent their attempts to escape.

Sundews use sticky tentacles to trap insects like flypaper. The insect's struggles to get free only trap it more securely.

The Venus Flytrap uses a spring trap, like a mouse trap, to capture its prey.

Bladderworts use suction, triggered by prey at the entrance of the trap, to pull insects into their trap; finally, a trap door closes to seal the entrance.

The first scientific paper on carnivorous plants is believed to have been written by Charles Darwin.

More about carnivorous plants

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