Some Insectivorous plants

Insectivorous Plants 

                Certain flowering plants, growing in nitrogen deficient soil, obtain nitrogen by killing small insects. They are green and autotrophic in their nutrition. These plants show beautiful devices for the capture of insects. 

 The following are some of the common examples:

1. Nepenthes

               It is also known as pitcher plant. It is found in the Assam hills. In this plant the lower part of the petiole is modified like a leaf and perform photosynthesis. The upper part is modified like a tendril. The leaf blade is modified into a brightly coloured pitcher. It secretes sugary fluid to attract the insects.

              As the insect sits on the rim of the pitcher, It slips down and the lid closes. The insect is digested by the proteolytic enzyme by the pitcher.

            Finally the walls absorb the nitrogenous compounds present in the insect.

2. Drosera

            It is also known as Sundew plant. It is grown in the hills of Kashmir. 

             They have long stalked leaves arranged in the form of a rosette ( circular manner ). The inflorescence arises at the center. The leaf blade is circular in shape and bears a number of tentacles on their margin. The swollen end of each tentacle secretes a sticky digestive fluid, Which glitters in the sun like dew drops, hence the same sundew for this plant. As the insect sits on the leaf, the tentacles cover the insect. The digestive glands produce the juice for the digestion of insects.

3. Utricularia

               It is also known as bladderwort. It is found submerged in streams and ponds. These plants lack roots and possess small dissected leaves. Few leaves become modified into bladders. Each bladder is oval in shape, with glands and a valve. Many insects enter into the bladder, along with water stream. The valve becomes closed and digests the insects with help of digestive juice.