Species of carnivorous plant
The carnivorous plant has many different species. There are more than 750 species. Each species has a unique and successful method of catching insects. The different species of carnivorous plants have one thing in common, namely that the plants lure insects with beautiful colours and irresistible scents. The three most common and popular species are explained below.
The folding trap: Venus fly trap
The folding trap consists of two leaf halves that resemble a mouth. These leaf halves can quickly snap shut. The smell of the leaf halves attracts the insects to the leaf. Inside the leaf, there are three to nine feeler hairs. The hairs work as a kind of sensor. If two feeler hairs are touched within twenty seconds, the mouth shuts and the insect is caught. After closing, the mouth of the Venus fly trap fills with a secretion that digests the insect. The carnivorous plant digests the insect within two to ten days. The carnivorous plant uses the insect as food. Ten days after the insect has been consumed, the trap will open again for the next prey.
There are two carnivorous plants that use this mechanism to catch their prey. These are the Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) and the waterfly trap (Aldrovanda vesiculosa). Would you like to have a carnivorous plant yourself? In this webshop you can buy the most beautiful Venus fly trap.
The sticky trap: Sundew & Butterwort
The sticky trap consists of all sorts of stems with small leaves on which there are hairs on the sides. At the tips of the hairs there is a thickening, which produces a sticky secretion in the form of small droplets. These droplets attract the insects: they look like a delicious meal. If the insect lands on the leaf and comes into contact with the droplets, the impressive trap will be activated. In response, the insect will try to escape, but the more the insect moves, the more of the sticky secretion gets on the insect. When the insect is trapped, the plant rolls the leaf around the prey. The secretion digests the prey and absorbs the feeding juices. There are a number of carnivorous plants with this mechanism. These are the sundew(Drosera), Portuguese sundew (drosophyllum), Butterwort(Pinguicula) and rainbow plant (Byblis).
Fun fact: The sundew and butterwort are found in parts of Europe.
The pitcher plant: Sarracenia & Nepenthes
As the name suggests, the leaves of the goblet have the shape of a cup. At the top of the inside of the Cup plant is a smooth edge with small vertical grooves. The function of this is that an insect has nowhere to grip the leaf and slides into the cup. Inside the cup itself there are all kinds of strong hairs that are pointed downwards. The purpose of these hairs is that the prey is trapped and cannot escape. At the bottom of the pitcher there is a watery secretion which digests the prey. There are different types of pitcher plants. Namely the pitcher plant (Sarracenia) and the pitcher plant (Nepenthes). A nickname for the pitcher plant is 'Monkey's cup', because monkeys have been seen drinking water from the large cups.
Fact: some pitcher plant species, such as Nepenthes 'Raja', can produce pitchers of up to 50 cm. With these large pitchers of Nepenthes, collar animals such as rats are sometimes on the menu. The notorious family name 'carnivorous plant or insectivorous plant' therefore really comes into its own with this species.
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Would you like to have one of these impressive species in your house and/or garden? In our webshop, you can easily order the carnivorous plant that appeals to you most. Do you have any questions or comments, or are you missing a particular carnivorous plant? Do not hesitate, contact us via the contact form.