CarnivorousPlants

Graham Oden

December 17,2008

What are Carnivorous Plants?

• Carnivorous plants are plants that can eat insects and/or small animals.

How do Carnivorous plants get their energy?

• They get their energy the same way the other plants do...

Photosynthesis

Why do Carnivorous plants eat insects and other small animals?

• They eat insects and other small animals because they live in places where the soil is low in nutrients.

• Carnivorous plants get the needed nutrients from their “PREY”.

What types are there?

Pitfall Traps(pitcher plant)

The pitcher plant is basically a slippery leaf wrapped into a tube shape that contains a pool of digestive enzymes at the bottom.

Pitcher Plant Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN9bI4j00mY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3BMTKnMb0A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya2ndp1OrPQ

Pitfall Trap (Cobra Lily)

Most Pitfall Traps have the opening on the top of the plant, the Cobra Lily has an opening on the bottom. When an insect flies into it, it has “windows” that let light in but not insects out. The insects are attracted to the light but cant get out.

Cobra Lily Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqo-75xZ15M

Fly Paper traps(sundew)

Fly Paper traps are coated with a sticky substance called “mucilage". When an insect lands on the plant it sticks to it, after a while the plant will curl around it and digest it.

Sundew Video(time lapse)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ8kY_BcanQ

Snap traps(Venus fly trap)

As you can see the Venus Fly Trap has small trigger hairs on the inside, so if an insect lands on it and triggers only one hair and flies off its lucky but if it triggers more than one it will cause its own doom.

Venus Fly Trap Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUWQFF0RJN4

Bladder traps(Bladderwort)

The Bladderwort is like an under water Venus Fly Trap. The bladders suck in and trap water insects.

Bladderwort Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrAE1CA4Qus

Assignment

• Draw your own carnivorous plant using only plant parts.