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Carnivorous plants Facts

Carnivorous plants Facts
Carnivorous plants are plants specialized for trapping and digestion of animals. There are 630 different carnivorous plants that can be found throughout the world (except on Antarctica). Greatest variety of carnivorous plants can be seen in North America. These plants inhabit bogs, rocky areas and other types of soils that are poor in nutrients. Carnivorous plants can survive on different altitudes and various climates, but they do not tolerate dry habitats. Diet based on animal's flesh provides nutrients that other plants normally absorb from the ground. Carnivorous plants differ in size, shape and mechanisms used to attract the prey. These plants are very popular and often cultivated because of their interesting morphology and unusual eating habits.
Interesting Carnivorous plants Facts:
Most species of carnivorous plants are small herbaceous plant that can reach 12 inches in height. Some species look like bushy vines. They can grow to the height of 3 feet.
Just like other plants, carnivorous plants obtain energy in the process of photosynthesis. They absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to create food (sugar).
Animal-based diet provides nutrients such as nitrogen, calcium and phosphate. These elements are used in various biological processes: protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, improvement of the structure of the cell walls…
Carnivorous plants are often very colorful, have beautiful smell and produce large quantities of nectar. All carnivorous plants are divided in five groups based on the mechanisms they use to catch their next meal.
Leaves of plants with pitfall traps are shaped like funnel that contains digestive enzymes on the bottom. After landing on the slippery edge of the leaves, insect will fall into the funnel.
Flypaper traps use glue-like substance which prevents insects to fly away.
Snap traps are designed for active catching of insects. After landing on the plant, insect touches sensitive hairs which trigger fast closing of the leaves and trapping of the prey.
Plants with bladder traps live in the water. They use vacuum and bladder-like structure to "swallow" their prey along with the surrounding water.
Plants with lobster-pot traps use inwardly oriented hairs to force insect to walk toward the pool of enzymatic juices.
Diet of almost all carnivorous plants consists of small insects and their larvae. Larger species of carnivorous plants can digest small mammals and frogs.
Carnivorous plants produce digestive enzymes or use bacterial enzymes for digestion of food. Some plants combine these two methods.
Some species of carnivorous plants use insects' poop to absorb all nutrients they need.
Carnivorous plants can live on the ground or in the water.
Most carnivorous plants are pollinated by insects. In the case of pollination, insects are attracted by beautiful and colorful flowers.
Lifespan depends on the species, but some carnivorous plants (such as sundews) can survive up to 50 years in the wild.


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