carnivorous plants

carnivorous plants

Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous plants have always been fascinating to many people, including myself.   There are many misconceptions concerning carnivorous plants such as, the man eating plant.   Contrary to popular belief there really is no such thing.   As a matter of fact the biggest things that most carnivorous plants will ingest are small amphibians.   Not near the size of a man.   However, it is true that they eat other living things.   Since most carnivorous plants live in poor nutrient soils that also have high nitrogen, the plants were forced to adapt and find other ways to get the nutrients they needed.   They do get some nutrients from the soil around them but not enough to live off of.   The life span of a carnivorous plant depends on many different things.   If you take good care of your plant and have good living conditions for it, your plant can live for a good amount of time.   Some carnivorous plants, such as the pitcher plant can live up to 20 years

Carnivorous plants consist of many different species and classes.   There are approximately 400 species of carnivorous plants.   Carnivorous plants are plants that have adapted to attract, capture and digest primarily insects but also other small animals.   The way the plants capture their prey differs from plant to plant.   The type of trap a plant has differs as well.   There are many different types of traps such as the “flypaper trap”, passive traps, and active traps.    

Carnivorous plants are divided into two major categories passive traps, and active traps.   In passive traps the victim ultimately dies from digestive enzymes because it is unable to escape from the vase like leaf.   The passive trap uses enticing colors and scents to attract its prey and capture it.   A passive trap has hairs that grow downward making it almost impossible for their prey to escape.   They also have “flypaper” or “adhesive traps” where the leaves are covered with sticky hairs, which trap the victim once again making it...