W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory Carnivorous Plants Plants that - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory

Carnivorous Plants Plants that survive in low nutrient areas by trapping and consuming animals, especially insects.

5 Types of Traps Three of the five types of traps are represented in the Conservatory collection (shown in Bold ) Lobster-pot Bladder traps traps Carnivorous Plants Pitfall traps Tropical Pitcher Plant Flypaper traps California Pitcher Plant Snap traps White Trumpet Butterwort Asian Pitcher Plant Venus Fly Trap Pitcher Plant

Pitfall Traps • Pitfall traps (pitcher plants), trap prey in a rolled leaf that contains a pool of digestive enzymes and/or bacteria.

Asian Pitcher Plant • Largest pitchers in the world – up to 18 inches long • Digestive enzymes in the pitcher decompose trapped insects, and even animals as large as a mouse Philippines

Cobra Lily/California Pitcher Plant • Nectar glands attract insects • Insects ingest the nectar, fall into the liquid in the pitcher, and are decomposed by bacteria Oregon California

Pitcher Plant/Nepenthes Maxima • Insects drink the nectar produced at the pitcher’s rim, become intoxicated and fall into the pitcher where they are digested Southeast Asia

Schnells’ Ghost/White Trumpet • Produces pitchers twice a year, once in spring and once in early fall • Schnell’s Ghost looks like grass when no pitchers are produced Southeastern, US

Tropical Pitcher Plant • Hairs inside the plant hold the insect captive until the enzymes are able to digest the prey Philippines

Fly Paper Traps Plants with flypaper traps use a sticky, thick gluey substance to trap insects. Sundew Butterwort

Fly Paper Trap A sundew plant that has trapped and is beginning to digest a fly.

Butterwort • Small insects get stuck to the sticky leaves and enzymes dissolve them Central Mexico

Snap Traps These plants trap their prey using a ‘mouse trap;’ as an insect lands it touches the trigger hairs and the trap snaps shut. Trigger hairs

Venus Fly Trap • Lures prey with sweet nectar • Leaves can snap shut in less than one-tenth of a second Coastal North and South Carolina

Created by the Conservatory Education Committee, 2007 Members Adriene L. Brown, TCC and Multicare Megan Fish, University of Puget Sound Sue Habeck, Tacoma Community College Kathy Heimann, Blix Elementary Amy Ryken, University of Puget Sound Kathie Stork, Geiger Elementary Lila Transue, Bellarmine Preparatory Materials donated by: School of Education, University of Puget Sound