Carnivorous Plants

August 15, 2014 — butterwort, carnivorous plants, fly trap, pitcher plant

While the butterfly exhibit is on hold for the summer the Tucson Botanical Gardens has a small but impressive display of flesh eating plants in the tropical greenhouse. It is easier to handle since the USDA does not require full time guards as they do on the butterfly species.  The small and well appointed display teaches us that there are many forms that plants use to lure in insect prey for their food.  We know about some of the obvious styles, like fly trap and pitcher, but the cute little flowers on bladderwort and butterworts are there to attract the insects that will be killed and consumed when stuck to the flypaper type leaves.  The diminutive sundews produce extra sticky dew drops that never release the bug that gets too close.  They are all botanically interesting and some very pretty to see.  Imagine the poor bug’s life ending as it is called to investigate one of these exotic traps.  Survival depends on more than fitness of body.  In the wild we must have the good sense to leave attractive menaces alone.