Carnivorous Plants

Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula)

From North America, this is one of the most common of the carnivorous plants and one of the easiest to grow. Insects are attracted to the nectar and colouration of the traps, which spring shut once the trigger hairs are touched. As the insect struggles, the trap closes tighter until it is totally sealed. Acids and enzymes then flood the trap and digestion begins. The second stage of digestion may not begin of dead food is placed in the traps. If digestion doesn’t occur the trap could rot, which could lead to the whole plant dying.

CARE : Keep moist and humid during summer, drier in winter. Always use clean rainwater or distilled water,- never use tap water in Adelaide!

Tall Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia)

These plants (like nepenthes) have downward pointing hairs which makes access down into the pitcher easy and retreat impossible. As the pitcher becomes narrower, the only path leads down into the digestive juices. Varieties include,- alata, flava, leucophylla, minor, oreophylla, psittacina, purpurea and rubra.

CARE : Sarracenias usually require a great deal of water. Pots can be stood in trays of water during summer. They can also be grown outside in a bog garden or in a terrarium.

Albany Pitcher Plant (Cephalotus Follicularis)

This plant grows in only one place in the world (Albany in West Australia) and is on the endangered species list. The window lid of the Cephalotus pitcher doesn’t move; instead, light reflects through the lid to the water filled pitcher. Flying insects attracted to the pitcher dive towards the water believing the reflection of the lid is the way out. Crawling insects climb over the blood red ribbed rim, lose their footing on the rims slippery surface and fall into the digestive liquid. The rim is spiked inside to prevent the insects crawling out.

CARE : Keep soil moist during summer and drier in winter. The lid will close when the humidity is low and the pitchers will lose their red colour when sunlight is decreased.

Sundew (Drosera)

This group of plants has tiny tentacles which have a clear gluey substance at their tip. This gluey substance holds the insect which has landed on one or more of the tentacles. As the insect struggles more tentacles move to grab the prey and the whole leaf may engulf the insect as digestion begins.

CARE : Drosera usually require a bit of shade and can also suffer from overwatering.

Tropical Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes)

This variety has some of the largest pitchers of all the carnivorous plants and old plants have been known to trap small birds. Insects become attracted to the pitchers by the colour and nectar the plant produces. As with the Albany Pitcher Plant, the lid of the Nepenthes only opens when the plant is capable of digesting prey, and the lid drops when the humidity is low. Varieties include,- alata, khasiana and mirabilis.

CARE : Nepenthes require high humidity and generally high temperatures. This can be achieved by either growing the plant in either a hot house or in a glass case (fish tank or terrarium). The root system of Nepenthes requires adequate drainage to prevent the plant from rotting.

Pinguicula

Similar to sundews as they also have sticky leaves. Most varieties have purple flowers in early spring.

CARE : Keep moist and out of direct sunlight.

Cobra Lily (Darlingtonia California)

Prized among collectors this rare (and hard to grow!) plant has pitchers similar to Sarracenia, but the top of the pitcher looks like a cobra snake,- complete with fangs!

CARE : Needs humidity, but roots need to be kept cool. Not recommended for beginners.