The spooky science behind carnivorous plants
Learn more about the biology of carnivorous plants with Encyclopædia Britannica editor Melissa Petruzzello.
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Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING] MELISSA PETRUZELLO: Carnivorous plants are flowering plants that are adapted to capture and digest prey. Of the 600 species of carnivorous plants out there, most eat insects or other invertebrates. But a few are large pitcher plants and can handle salamanders or even rats. So they're really remarkable.
Most people think that carnivorous plants eat their prey for food, but that's actually a misconception. Carnivorous plants are photosynthetic and still make their food from the sun like other plants. Instead, they use carnivory as a way to survive in poor soil conditions. Carnivory allows them to obtain nutrients like nitrogen that the soil's lacking. And in that way, they can survive and even thrive in habitats that would be too harsh for other plants.
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Most people think that carnivorous plants eat their prey for food, but that's actually a misconception. Carnivorous plants are photosynthetic and still make their food from the sun like other plants. Instead, they use carnivory as a way to survive in poor soil conditions. Carnivory allows them to obtain nutrients like nitrogen that the soil's lacking. And in that way, they can survive and even thrive in habitats that would be too harsh for other plants.
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