Carnivorous PlantsCarnivorous Plants(Plants with structures and functions of both (Plants with structures and functions of both

animals & plants)animals & plants)

The structure and function of The structure and function of their food digestiontheir food digestion

Catching the insectCatching the insect

The actual traps are located on the plants leaves The actual traps are located on the plants leaves They attract their victims with a scent reminiscent of They attract their victims with a scent reminiscent of

food and a safe landing placefood and a safe landing place As soon as the insect settles, the leaf tips spring As soon as the insect settles, the leaf tips spring

instantly with lightning speed and within seconds the instantly with lightning speed and within seconds the insect is trapped inside the two halves of the leaf insect is trapped inside the two halves of the leaf

There is a second where the plant tests what it has There is a second where the plant tests what it has caught using its sensory glands on the surface of its caught using its sensory glands on the surface of its lobeslobes

If the prey contains protein, the trap clothes fully and If the prey contains protein, the trap clothes fully and the digestion begins the digestion begins

The Digestion Process The Digestion Process

Once the insect has been caught, it is Once the insect has been caught, it is slowly dissolved by digestive fluids slowly dissolved by digestive fluids produced by the plantproduced by the plant

After many days, all that is left is the After many days, all that is left is the insect’s exoskeleton, the hard outer insect’s exoskeleton, the hard outer casing of the bodycasing of the body

The rest has been absorbed by the plant The rest has been absorbed by the plant

Vitamin Tablets Vitamin Tablets

Carnivorous plants, like any other plant, also Carnivorous plants, like any other plant, also use the process of photosynthesis to make use the process of photosynthesis to make their own foodtheir own food

The insects they catch are only used as dietary The insects they catch are only used as dietary supplementssupplements

Like the equivalent of vitamin tablets for plantsLike the equivalent of vitamin tablets for plants Many plants need this extra source of food as Many plants need this extra source of food as

they grow in waterlogged ground where the soil they grow in waterlogged ground where the soil is lacking in nutrients and other essential is lacking in nutrients and other essential nutrientsnutrients

Carnivorous PlantsCarnivorous Plants(Plants with structure and functions of both (Plants with structure and functions of both

animals & plants)animals & plants)

The structure and function of The structure and function of their food digestiontheir food digestion