Insectivorous Plants

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Classification of Insectivorous Plants

Plants that obtain at least some of their nutrition by capturing and digesting prey are called insectivorous, or carnivorous, plants. Such plants have adaptations that allow them to attract, catch, and break down or digest prey once it is caught. Estimates of the number of species of carnivorous plants number from 450 to more than 600. Generally, these plants are classified into genera based upon the mechanism they have for trapping and capturing their prey. The major genera of these plants are listed below.


Common name

Scientific name

Trapping mechanism

bladderwort

Utricularia vulgaris

active trap; shows rapid motion during capture

butterwort

Pinguicula vulgaris

semiactive trap; two-stage trap in which prey is
initially caught in sticky fluid

California pitcher plant

Darlingtonia californica

passive trap; attracts prey with nectar and then drowns
prey in fluid contained within plant

flypaper plant

Byblis liniflora

passive trap; attracts prey with nectar and then drowns
prey in fluid contained within plant

sundew

Drosera linearis

semiactive trap; two-stage trap in which prey is
initially caught in sticky fluid

Venus's flytrap

Dionaea muscipula

active trap; shows rapid motion during capture

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