Carnivorous Plants

Written by: Caroline Kim

December 4, 2022

If you have a passion for plants and were also convinced to watch the netflix series Wednesday Adams, you probably took notice of the intriguing plants in the show, specifically the carnivorous plants. Whenever plants come to mind, the carnivorous ones are never the first to come to mind, but maybe that’ll change now. Today we’ll look into what carnivorous plants actually are, how they work, and of course how global climate change is impacting them.

According to Britannica, these unique groups of plants are characterized as, “any plant especially adapted for capturing and digesting insects and other animals by means of ingenious pitfalls and traps” (Britannica). All around the world, there are more than 600 known species of these plants and have all evolved over time (Britannica). These fascinating plants tend to reside near swamps, damp regions, or muddy/sandy shores; they also tend to steer clear from habitats with high nitrogenous/acidic content (Britannica). Some major carnivorous plant families include the Lentibulariaceae, Droseraceae, Sarraceniaceae, Byblidaceae, and Bromeliaceae (Britannica).

There are 6 basic trapping mechanisms used by these plants: adhesive, pitfall, lobster pot, pigeon trap, snap, and suction (Carnivorous Plant Trapping Mechanisms). In an adhesive trap, glands secrete a substance that has a sticky texture in order to trap its victims; on the other hand, pitfalls are when the base of the leaves form a pit to form water, in which prey slips, falls, and drowns (Carnivorous Plant Trapping Mechanisms). In lobster and pigeon style traps, insects can easily enter the plant, but may struggle to find an exit, specifically if it is light oriented (Carnivorous Plant Trapping Mechanisms. In the flare of the snap trap, when the prey brushes against the hairs of the plant, an immediate reaction allows the plant to snap shut, trapping the prey (Carnivorous Plant Trapping Mechanisms). Last but not least, a suction mechanism allows the plant to pump water, creating a vacuum that is so fast that it is difficult to even see through the naked human eye (Carnivorous Plant Trapping Mechanisms).

Unfortunately, even these aren’t safe from the troubles of climate change as it appears to be the case that “A quarter of the world’s 860 known carnivorous plant species are at risk of extinction as a result of climate change and threats like land clearing and poaching” (Pope). Some of the major impacts from a study (examining 790 plants) concluded that severe weather, agriculture, aquaculture, rising temperatures, fires, droughts, disruption of land all were ways in which the plants were impacted (Pope). With more study and innovation to protect against climate change, these plants are another motivator to start promoting environmental health.

Sources:

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "carnivorous plant". Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Jul. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/plant/carnivorous-plant. Accessed 4 December 2022.

“Carnivorous Plant Trapping Mechanisms.” Carnivorous Plant Trapping Mechanisms | ICPS, https://www.carnivorousplants.org/cp/carnivory/trapping.

Pope, Kristen. “One-Fourth of Carnivorous Plant Species at Risk of Extinction, Study Finds " Yale Climate Connections.” Yale Climate Connections, 26 Oct. 2022, https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/02/one-fourth-of-carnivorous-plant-species-at-risk-of-extinction-study-finds/.