Insectivorous Plants

Carnivorous Planys

3. Carnivorous PlantsCarnivorous Plants

Carnivorous PlantsCarnivorous Plants
 If an animal eats a plant, it is  If an animal eats a plant, it is
of no particular interest; but of no particular interest; but
when a plant eats an animal, when a plant eats an animal,
that is of  interest.that is of  interest.

The fact that there are few The fact that there are few
flesh-eating plants make them flesh-eating plants make them
fascinating and interesting to fascinating and interesting to
everyone.everyone.

4. The The
Venus Fly Venus Fly
TrapTrap
The Venus Fly Trap The Venus Fly Trap
is the most well is the most well
known species of known species of
carnivorous plants. carnivorous plants.

5. 
These insectivorous These insectivorous
plants lure their prey plants lure their prey
using a sweet smelling using a sweet smelling
nectar. When an nectar. When an
insect lands on the insect lands on the
head of the fly trap, head of the fly trap,
they seek the source they seek the source
of the nectar, and if of the nectar, and if
the plant is lucky, it the plant is lucky, it
will touch one of the will touch one of the
many trigger hairs many trigger hairs
located within the located within the
jaws of the trap.jaws of the trap.

6. 
Once Once
triggered, triggered,
the trap the trap
snaps snaps
closed, closed,
trapping trapping
the the
victim.victim.

7. 
The plant then The plant then
secretes an secretes an
enzyme which enzyme which
essentially essentially
'dissolves' the 'dissolves' the
insect, turning insect, turning
it into a it into a
digestible digestible
dinner.dinner.

8. 
After a After a
few few
days, days,
the fly the fly
trap will trap will
re-open, re-open,
to await to await
it's next it's next
victim.victim.
YummmYummm
mm!mm!

9. Is this cricket taking a nap????

12. Pitcher Plant or Fly CatcherPitcher Plant or Fly Catcher

13. 
The inner The inner
part of part of
these these
beautiful beautiful
pitchers are pitchers are
covered with covered with
stiff hairs stiff hairs
and are and are
half-filled half-filled
with a liquid.with a liquid.

14. 
The insects are attracted  by the beautiful flower The insects are attracted  by the beautiful flower
and the sweet fluid.  The hairs on the  inner surface and the sweet fluid.  The hairs on the  inner surface
of the pitcher allow the insect to travel down but they of the pitcher allow the insect to travel down but they
prevent its traveling upward and out. prevent its traveling upward and out. 

15. 
Therefore it continues downward into the Therefore it continues downward into the
fluid where it drowns. The plant absorbs fluid where it drowns. The plant absorbs
the soft parts of the  body and the the soft parts of the  body and the
skeleton  remains in the bottom of the skeleton  remains in the bottom of the
pitcher.pitcher.

16. 
Pitcher plants are often found with many skeletons Pitcher plants are often found with many skeletons
hidden inside.hidden inside.

17. Look inside a pitcher plant!

18. What do you see?

19. These are the parts the
pitcher plant doesn’t eat.

20. Do you recognize any of the parts that are left?

21. Take a look inside of the pitcher plant.

22. Pitcher plants in North America live almost exclusively in
bogs, wet meadows, or pine savannahs, and wetlands.

23. Sun DewSun Dew

24. 
  Small insects, Small insects,
such as gnats such as gnats
are attracted are attracted
by the by the
beautiful dew-beautiful dew-
like substance like substance
on the leaves on the leaves
of this plant.of this plant.

25. 
Once they have come  in  contact Once they have come  in  contact
with this sticky substance, with this sticky substance,
however, they cannot escape. however, they cannot escape.

26. 
After a short time the leaf slowly After a short time the leaf slowly
folds, completely  encloses the insect folds, completely  encloses the insect
and digests its body.and digests its body.

27. BladderwortBladderwort

  In the springtime the prairies are carpeted In the springtime the prairies are carpeted
in the  yellow flower of the bladderwort. in the  yellow flower of the bladderwort.
This plant lives in shallow waters and  This plant lives in shallow waters and 
swamps of the Southeast. swamps of the Southeast.

The leaves have small air sacs or bladders The leaves have small air sacs or bladders
in which minute water creatures such as in which minute water creatures such as
larvae,  nematodes, water  fleas, protozoa, larvae,  nematodes, water  fleas, protozoa,
and small worms are trapped. and small worms are trapped. 

28. 
Each bladder has a small opening Each bladder has a small opening
through which the tiny animal can through which the tiny animal can
enter but cannot escape.enter but cannot escape.

29. 
Each bladder has a small opening through which Each bladder has a small opening through which
the tiny animal can enter but cannot escape.the tiny animal can enter but cannot escape.

Eventually the trapped  organisms die and their Eventually the trapped  organisms die and their
bodies decompose  forming the nitrogenous food bodies decompose  forming the nitrogenous food
for the bladderwort.for the bladderwort.