Plants are life-givers and generally, serve a variety of essential purposes in human life and nature. They serve to generate life-giving oxygen in the atmosphere photosynthesis by making use of the carbon dioxide from human and other activities.
In homes and in the wild, they serve decorative as well as medical purposes.
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Plants in terms of their purpose and typology can fall into categories such as flowery plants, herbal or medicinal plants, and plants that bear fruits (vegetables, tubers etc.). Of peculiar interest, however, are a group of plants known as Carnivorous plants. They earned this description from their ability and renown for trapping insects and tapping out the needed nutrients for the plant’s growth.
Amongst the numerous bug-eaters plants are the well-known the Venus flytrap, the Cobra Lily, Tropical Pitcher plant and so on. These plants can be found in swampy areas and places where regular plants are not likely to survive. They feed on insects for supplementary nutrients.
The carnivorous plants attract the insect by releasing chemicals into the air which lures them to the camp of the plant. Once the bug comes in contact with the plant signals are sent into the sensory nerves of the plants. After a span of 30 seconds, the plant clamps up partially with the insect trapped.
While the insect struggles, it secrets chemicals such as sodium and potassium ions which helps the plant detect if it is indeed an insect because of its tendency to pick signals which may not be bugs such as raindrops or seeds.
One may ask if these plants go through the photosynthesis process for growth like regular plants or just depend on these bugs for survival. The answer is yes! The photosynthetic process is a necessary growth for the plant’s survival. The only difference is that because the carnivorous plants grow in areas that lack nitrogen they depend on the insects for these nutrients, are essential for survival
Interestingly there are some carnivorous plants that are big enough to capture rodents, snails and sizeable animals. After digestion the trap takes about 10 to 20 days depending on the type of insect and its size to reopen for its next meal.
