Page 162 - Ultimate Visual Dictionary (DK)

PLANTS

Carnivorous Areola PITCHER PLANT
Cobra lily (Darlingtonia californica)
(“window” of
transparent tissue)
Hood Pitcher
Fishtail nectary
plants Wing Tubular
petiole
(leaf stalk)
CARNIVOROUS (INSECTIVOROUS) PLANTS FEED ON INSECTS and other small
animals, in addition to producing food in their leaves by photosynthesis. Areola
(“window” of
The nutrients absorbed from trapped insects enable carnivorous plants to transparent
thrive in acid, boggy soils that lack essential minerals, especially nitrates, tissue)
where most other plants could not survive.
Smooth surface
All carnivorous plants have some leaves
Dome-shaped
modified as traps; many use bright colors hood develops Nectar roll
and scented nectar to attract prey; and
Fishtail
most use enzymes to digest the prey. There nectary
are three types of traps. Pitcher plants, such appears Mouth
as the monkey cup and cobra lily, have leaves Immature Wing
modified as pitcher-shaped pitfall traps, pitcher
half-filled with water; once lured inside the
Downward
mouth of the trap, insects lose their footing on
pointing hair
the slippery surface, fall into the liquid, and
DEVELOPMENT OF MODIFIED
either decompose or are digested. Venus fly LEAF IN COBRA LILY
traps use a spring-trap mechanism; when an Immature
insect touches trigger hairs on the inner trap
surfaces of the leaves, the two lobes of the trap
Closed
snap shut. Butterworts and sundews entangle Interlocked trap
prey by sticky droplets on the leaf surface, teeth
while the edges of the leaves
slowly curl over to envelop
and digest the prey.

VENUS FLY TRAP
(Dionaea muscipula) Red color of trap
attracts insects
Phyllode
(flattened
petiole)
Trigger
Sensory hair
Summer petiole hinge
(leaf stalk)

Nectary zone
(glands secrete Inner
nectar) surface
of trap
Digestive zone
(glands Lobe Trap
secrete of trap (twin-lobed
digestive leaf blade)
enzymes) Midrib Spring petiole
(hinge of (leaf stalk) Digestive
trap) gland
MICROGRAPH OF LOBE OF
Tooth Trigger hair VENUS FLY TRAP
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