Insectivorous Plants

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Insectivorous Plants, also carnivorous plants, plants that gain some of their nutrition from animals, especially insects, captured by the plants themselves. Most occur in bogs where the soil is acid and poor in available nitrogen; capturing insects is one way of getting nitrogenous compounds without manufacturing them. At the same time, the green leaves of these plants manufacture carbohydrates. The trapping mechanism of insectivorous plants is relatively small. Therefore, prey is almost inevitably limited to small insects.

Insectivorous plants are diverse and represent members of three orders of dicots: Nepenthales, Scrophulariales, and Rosales. A majority are in the Nepenthales, including the pitcher plant, sundews and the Venus's-flytrap, and East Indian pitcher plants. Others include the bladderworts, butterworts, and the Australian pitcher plant. Discussed below are the sundews and bladderworts. Certain species of fungus are known to be carnivorous as well.

Venus’s-Flytrap

The two lobes of a Venus’s-flytrap leaf form a deceptively safe and attractive landing place for insects and other animals. Less than a second after the frog trips the trigger, bristles on the inside surface of the leaf, the lobes close enough to trap the intruder below interlocking spines. If sensory organs determine that the prisoner contains protein, the leaf closes further, and the plant’s digestive enzymes start to flow.



Scientific classification: The Australian pitcher plant belongs to the family Cephalotaceae and is classified as Cephalotus follicularis. Sundews make up the family Droseraceae. Bladderworts belong to the family Lentibulariaceae. The most widespread genus of bladderworts is Utricularia. The common bladderwort is classified as Utricularia vulgaris.

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