Carnivorous Plants
Trapping methods
Plants are static, they cannot 'stalk' their prey. Instead carnivorous
plants lure it, trap it, digest it and absorb the nutrients
as a sort of soup.
Prey is usually insects and other small invertebrates, but occasionally
frogs, birds and small mammals may be caught by large
tropical species.
There are four methods of trapping:
 Snap traps
The Venus fly trap (Dionaea) has leaves like a man trap. Modified, toothed,
leaf tips with sensitive trigger-hairs, snap shut on prey
which is digested by enzymes secreted from glands on the
inside of the traps.
 Pitfall traps
Sarracenia, Cephalotus, Darlingtonia and Nepenthes all
use this method. Insects are attracted to the colours and
sweet secretions inside the pitchers, but lose their footing on the smooth
hairs and waxy surface, falling to the bottom of the pitcher
where they are digested, either by plant enzymes or by bacteria.
 Flypaper traps
Sticky surfaces are used by the sundews (Drosera) and the butterworts
(Pinguicula). Insects are attracted to shiny glands covering the
leaves but become covered in sticky, dew-like secretions and cannot escape.
Suction traps
A trapping method used by Utricularia involves an underwater bladder with
trapdoor entry. Tiny animals are sucked into the bladder in a rush of water
as the trapdoor flies open.
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