Carnivorous - S & J Green

Carnivorous Plants

Name Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
Family Droseracaea
Genus Dionaea
Origin North Carolina, South Carolina
Habitat In it's natural habitat, the venus flytrap prefers savannah plains, like those found in North and South Carolina. Here the plants often grow surrounded by grasses and other carniverous plants. The plants grow in a variety of soil types such as peat, sand, or loam, with an acid pH of between 4 and 5. The venus flytrap can withstand full sun, but only in soil with high moisture content.
Hardness Plants are perennial and are able to withstand temperatures of -10F, but in their natural habitat the temperature rarely falls below 32F.
Description Adult plants have a great range in size depending on their enviroment. The flower stalks range in height to 14 inches. The flytrap usually grows 8 leaves in rosette formation. It usually does not have more than 8 leaves because the older traps age and turn black. The trap is formed by two lobes at the end of the leaf, which are usually green with a red tint on the inside. The face of each side of the trap has three hairs in a triangular formation. They are surrounded by digestive glands, which form the red color.

Name Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia minor)
Family Sarraceniaceae
Genus Sarracenia
Origin Southeastern United States
Habitat As with other species of Sarraceniaceae, the hooded pitcher plant grows best in damp areas, but it is not uncommon to find this species growing in dry areas. Its natural habitats include savannas and sparse pine forests. As with the other species of Sarracenia, dividing the rhizome into segments may reproduce the plant.
Description The leaves grow into almost perfectly cylindrical trumpets, which turn from light green to reddish-brown torward the hood as the plant matures. The characteristic white spots are visible even on the juvinile foliage but become prominent with maturity. The spots are caused by a lack of chlorophyll. The leaves range in size up to 3 feet in height. The top of the leaf is curved over the opening of the trap to form a hood, which gives the hooded pitcher plant its name. Under the hood are nectar glands, which attract insect. When insects enter the opening of the trap, they are unable to turn back because of downward-pointing hairs, which direct them further into the trap. Glands at the bottom of the trap excrete digestive enzymes that help the plant assimilate nutrients provided by insects.
Prey Sarraceniaceae minor, like all other species in the sarraceniafamily, attracts many winged insects, but also catches a large number of ants.
Pest/Diseases Numerous insectscan attack this species, with aphids being the primary offender. Problems that may arise can be easily treated with ortho systemic insect killer, which can be purchased at your local garden center. The hooded pitcher plant is also susceptible to fungus, which usually occurs on older growth due in part to the nectar, which the plant produces. Powdery mildew commonly occurs torwards the end of the growing season especially on plants grown in high humidity. This may be treated with an ortho fungicide like Daconi, which may also be purchased at your local garden center. Follow label directions.

Name Round Leaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)
Family Droseraceae
Genus Drosera
Origin Contenential North America, Asia and Europe
Habitat This plant is probably the most widespread carnivorous species in the world. Its main habitat is that of marshy, acid areas, especially in the presence of sphagnum moss
Hardness Drosera rotundifolia is a perennial species, which becomes dormant in cooler climates. With proper care, its lifespan is indefinite. The sundew may be grown indoors but requires high amounts of both light and humidity. It may be grown in Sphagnum moss, but must be kept continuously wet.
Description It's leaves vary in length from 3/4 inch to 2 inches. The numerous leaves, in rosette formation, are radial and prostrate, with the new leaves growing out over and resting on the old ones. The slender leaf base gives way to a rounded portion of the leaf blade, which is covered in cilia. These glandular hairs are longer around the outer edge of the limb and are what gives the sundew its red color. The more sunlight the plant is exposed to, the redder it will become. The flower stalks arise from the center of the rosette in early Spring and are fully mature from 2 to 8 inches. Flowers may be single or in groups of up to twenty. They are generally white, but may, in some cases be pink or light purple. The flowers are self-pollinating. The seeds mature quickly in large quantities. The seed may be sewn immediately or stored through the winter and sown in the Spring. The seeds should be sown on damp peat and left uncovered. If the peat remains wet at all times, germination occurs rapidly and new plants grow quickly.
Prey The digestive glands are located in the center of the plant. When an insect is caught, on a sticky tentacle, the limb bends to further enclose the prey, surrounding it with more mucilage.

Name Purple Pitcher (Sarracenia purpurea)
Family Sarraceniaceae
Genus Sarracenia
Origin North America (northern part of the continent, Atlantic coastal region, south through Florida).
Habitat Marshy areas are its best known habitat
Description The leaves range from 4 to 12 inches long, narrow at the base and giving way to a bulbous middle which constricts at the top to form a narrow opening. Above the opening, the leaf widens to form a somewhat horseshoe or heart-shaped surface, which is generally ruffled around the edges. The upper surface of the leaf is covered by hundreds of downward-pointing hairs, which direct the prey into the pitcher as shown in the following picture.
Prey The prey is usually attracted by nectar, which is produced at the lip of the narrow section of the trap. The prey may also be attracted by the color of the plant.
Pest/Diseases In the U.S. the caterpillars of 3 butterfly species attack the Sarracenia.

Name Red Topped Trumpet (Sarracenia rubra)
Family Sarraceniaceae
Genus Sarracenia
Origin Southeastern United States
Habitat This species is found in damp, even swampy locations, usually in the presence of Sphagnum moss. It can be seen growing in fields among other short plants and grasses as well as in side ditches or anywhere sufficient moisture is present. It may also occur in a woodland setting but this is rare because of its light requirements.
Description The leaves of Sarracenia rubra are shaped like tubular trumpets, erect and with a hood covering. The mature height may reach 3 feet. These leaves grow from a rhizome, produce 3 to 20 trumpet shaped leaves annually, and then will grow winter leaves (phyllodes) in the fall. When grown in full sun, these leaves are thick and firm, which makes them fairly resistant to wind and rain. The hood generally keeps the rainwater from entering the trumpet so it will be less likely to fall over.
Sarracenia rubra is a passive pitfall plant; it doesn't have to move to capture its insects. The insects are attracted by nectar glands around the outer edge of the hood and underneath the hood, where its attaches to the mouth of the trumpet. Nectar is also produced around the rim of the trumpet and along the wing formed where the two leaf-edges join. Escape for insects venturing inside is virtually impossible. They have no alternative but to make their way downward, where they eventually digested by enzymes and bacteria.
Prey The Red-Topped Trumpet attracts all sorts of winged insects, such as wasps, flies, and bees as well as other related insects.
Pest/Diseases When grown indoors, aphids, mealy bugs or scale may attack your plant.

Name White trumpet (Sarracenia leucophylla Tamoc)
Family Sarraceniaceae
Genus Sarracenia
Origin Southwest Georgia, Northwest Florida
Habitat This plant grows mainly in swampy meadows.
Description The leaves are trumpet shaped and, when mature are up to 3 feet in height. The leaves grow from rhizomes, which grow on the surface of the soil. the pitchers are green at the base and white at the top with green and red veins on the upper sections. The pitcher has a lid, which is an extension of the leaf. The undersurface of the lid has nectar glands, which attract insects.
Growing Plants grow best in a sphagnum-based medium. Peat may also be used. The soil must be kept constantly damp and only slightly drier when dormant Use non-chloinated water or allow chlorinated water to sit for 48 hours before use. The plants prefer full sun, which gives them their vivid colors.

Name Yellow Butterwort (Pinguicula lutea)
Family Lentibulariaceae
Genus Pinguicula; comprises more than 50 species
Origin Coastal plains and hinterland of Southeastern US
Habitat The yellow butterwort grows in poor, often sandy soils or damp, swampy areas where it is protected from direct sunlight.

Name Cape Sundew (Drosera capensis)
Family Droseraceae
Genus Drosera
Origin Cape Province, South Africa
Description Drosera capensis is native to Cape Province, South Africa. The species can withstand full sunlight and must be given as much sunlight as possbile if cultivated indoors. It can withstand light frost but is not hardy when temperatures drop below freezing. In its native habitat it grows in marshy soils.