From the huge Nepia plant that can swallow a whole rat, to the scarylooking Venus flytrap that eats insects while they land on it, and to the deadly helm for a plant that lures creatures in with its beauty. Today we’re going to take a look at 20 carnivorous plants. Plants that eat animals. Let’s get started with number 20. Sundew Drosera the sundew might look like a cute plant with its pretty red hairs, but you’d be shocked to find out what they’re used for.
The sticky red hairs attract bugs that come down to drink the sweet nectar, but once they land, it’s game over. The plant tightens its grip around the bug so it can’t escape and then breaks it down with digestive enzymes and eats it to consume its minerals. Creepy, right. Number 19. Albany pitcher plant.
Albany pitcher plant, or Australian pitcher plant is a fly catcher plant found on the coasts of Western Australia. The Australian pitcher, scientifically called Cephalotus focalres, is the only species in the Cephalocatene genus. Unlike other Pitra plants, this one has traditional leaves. Besides the Piture leaves, which are used to generate energy through photosynthesis, the bright red rings in the pitcher’s opening attracts insects which get trapped inside and are broken down by the digestive enzymes inside. Number 18.
Rohula this pretty flower is quite deadly to deal with if your bug that is Roradula belongs to the Roar Dilake genus and is native to the southwestern provinces of South Africa. Then Woody and with parts looking out in all directions, the plant uses a special resin to digest the insects that get trapped in its branches. It lives in a symbiotic state of understanding with assassin bugs that helps in breaking down the bug. Number 17. Alanrova CLAVATA.
This aquatic carnivore, also known as the waterwheel plant, operates in mysterious ways. Named in honor of Italian naturalist Ulysses Andreevandi, the plant has a rootless, free floating body with multiple branches that roll outwards. It thrives in warm climates and stays dormant through most of the winter. Its leaves are typically bent outwards, which change positions and traps shut when insects brush through the trigger hair, activating ions that trigger motion. Number 16.
Biblis also known as the rainbow plant due to its bright, attractive, musliage covered leaves that shine in the sunlight. It derives its name from the Greek legend Biblis, a maiden who loved her brother but got nothing in return. She turned into a spring upon her death, symbolizing her eternal sorrow. Biblis traps its prey using the Mughal Jenna’s Goo that secretes on its leaves, rendering them helpless. Number 15.
Butterworth Penangola Healing from the Olympic Baccalaureate plant family, Butterworths are plants with large, elegant leaves that look great and do their dirty work too. They exist in regions where the soil has low nutrient value and get their nutrients from eating insects, which they lure using their big, granular leaves. Their surface consists of multiple glands that secrete fluids used to trap insects and break them down into valuable minerals. Number 14 Gen Lysia this plant is pretty different from the others on the list. Genlicee is a carnivorous plant that flourishes in semi aquatic areas and has modified long leaves that run underground.
These leaves are used for trapping and digesting small minute micro fauna that is found under the Earth. The plant lacks roots, and these silly subterranean leaves do their function of water and mineral absorption. I have to say that is a very peculiar plant. Number 13 stylim Devil Stylim Dele gets the nickname trigger plant due to the rapid motion of its flower parts during pollination. The plant is both male and female and is hence well capable of ensuring its survival.
Let’s see why they make this list, shall we? A proud native of Australia, this carnivore has sticky glands on parts of its flowers and stem which help capture the insects it needs for its nutrient needs. Number twelve. North American Pitcher Plant Another pitcher plant nice found across North America. Duh the trumpet pitcher is your average pitcher plant that traps unlucky insects inside its hollow space and congratulates itself on a job well done.
Just like other pitcher plants, this plant has no moving parts and relies on the tiny hair and slippery surface of the insides to trap its prey. Number eleven Nepinthes VI Chi these brightcolored beauties belong to the Nepataze genus and to have one of the biggest openings. Compared to other pitcher plants in the Nepalese, pitchers usually thrive in warm climates. However, this species of super pitchers are quite capable of surviving in cold Highland grounds. Another exciting feature of this plant is how its chute grows horizontally as opposed to a vertical direction followed by most plants.
Number Ten Cobra Lily Darlingtonian, California also known as Cobra Lily, gets its name from its pitcher like leaves. Resembling striking Cobras and having red appendages that look like forked tongue, the insects are drawn to their mouth where the nectar glands reside. Dazed and confused, the bugs trapped in the hollow leaves struggle to escape and finally fall to the bottom of the pitcher where the digestive enzymes get to work. Number nine floating Bladderwort Aren’t these yellow flowers absolutely delete? These aquatic carnivores, found almost anywhere, belong to the genus Utahia and are often cultivated for their flowers.
The bladderworths have underwater leaves with bladderlike sacks that trap and digest small animals like larvae and aquatic worms. This plant has no roots and only has a simple stem and a pair of flowers and leaves, making it a free director of the carnivore Kingdom. Number eight Rokuccini Reducta This South American carnivore stands out from other plants due to its distinctive shape resembling an Oregon pipe. The overlapping leaves of the plant form a water holding cup and have tiny scales on their surface that are highly reflective of ultraviolet light. The insects are drawn to the plant by the sweet vapor from the water and the UV light and fall into the cup to meet their maker.
Seven Jungle Lantern keptosis peritonia only found in regions of Central America and Brazil. The surface of this plant is covered by a fine powdery wax, inducing a glow, giving it the name yellow strap plant. The jungle Lantern captures its victims in its big earn shaped body that’s filled with digestive fluids that help in breaking it down. Its scientific name comes from the Greek word katopsis, which means view, indicating the pleasant view of the plant. Number Six Yellow Pitcher Plant Quite the look are coming in at number six.
The sarcasmia Flava is a vibrantly yellow colored pitcher plant that’s native to the US continent. The plant has nectarscreting glands fitted along with the pitcher that also employs a specific toxin along with the nectar, which intoxicates the insect trapped and makes it impossible to escape. The walls of the trumpet are covered with smooth, wavy scales, leading the bug to plummet downwards into the pool of enzymes. Number Five Trophy Phylum patelum Native to the Western tropics of Africa. What makes this plant unique is the fact that it has three types of leaves Lance shaped, regular leaves, small leaves and in hooks and carnivorous leaves capable of secreting deadly enzymes that dissolve their prey.
The short leaves with grappling hooks can even grow up an astounding 70ft and arguably make the plant the world’s largest carnivorous plant. The trapophilum’s existence has been threatened by deforestation and growing palm tree plantations in the past. Four Dewey Pine Dewey Pine or Joseph Phylum lusantium the only species in its genus is related to the Drozar. Ambiblis. It looks like we have a small family reunion over here.
This monstrous looking plant possesses a distinct aroma that attracts insects to it. When any poor soul lands on its leaves, it gets stuck in sticky fluid and dies as it tries to break free. The body is then broken down and consumed by the dewy pine for vital nutrients. Number Three Helium Flora no, this is not a Tulip. Helium Flora is a genus of pitcher plants found exclusively in the marshy regions of South America.
Hence it has the word heroes or Marsh in its title. There’s something interesting about the helium, fora they do not produce any enzymes and rely on symbiotic bacteria to help digest the insects they trap. The plant baits its prey with visual and chemical signals, attracting the insects to their early demise. Number Two Venus Flytrap Easily the most infamous of them all, the Venus Flytrap is a scary looking carnivorous plant that traps its victims who come looking for trouble. The trap is set off when the insect touches one of its trigger hairs and the jaws snap shut, tightening until it’s completely airtight.
The cavity is then filled with digestive enzymes that dissolve the insects and the nutrients are absorbed by the plant. Number One Nepadhese Raja Native to Mount Kinabalu and Mount Tabooku and Borneo, Nepalis Raja is the biggest pitcher plant to ever be recorded in history capable of holding up to three five liters of water and more than two and a half liters of digestive fluid, just by the sheer size of its urn like body is capable of trapping small animals like frogs and rodents.