Carnivorous plants have long been considered a miracle created by nature. These living organisms catch insects, arthropods. How do they eat them? Thanks to the secretion of digestive juice, the victim dissolves, and the plant receives a large amount of nutrients necessary for life.
Now about 600 species of predatory representatives of the flora are known. These killer plants have special tools that make it easier for them to find a victim. They help them attract and retain insects. What unites them among themselves? The first common symptom is the poverty of the soils on which they grow. The second is the brightness of the color. It attracts insects. In the latter, due to various shades, an association with the presence of nectar arises.
The article presents the 10 most dangerous killer plants that live with us on the same planet.
Sundew
This plant grows in various climatic zones. Dewdrop is considered a hunter. Its sacrifices are insignificant for humanity, the hunting process itself is soundless enough not to notice it at all.
The leaves of this plant look very unusual. They are a bit like a plate. Its upper part is covered with hairs, on the ends of which there is an adhesive mass. It is she who attracts the potential victim. It seems to the insects that there is dew at the tips. This drop deprives the victims of the opportunity to get out and stay alive. Killer plants of this species are popular all over the world.
The leaves of the sundew are sensitive enough, so a little touch is enough for the hairs to begin to move. They carefully cling to the victim, placing it in the middle of the leaf, where the digestive process begins. If you see a sundew while eating, you can see that it is a bit like a small ventricle.
Venus flytrap
Veneres are killer plants that belong to the genus of sundews. Adult individuals are able to catch and eat flies, mosquitoes, and other insects of this kind. The size of the leaves of this plant is small - within 4-7 cm.
The trap of an individual consists immediately of two halves, which are a bit like mollusks. On their edges are denticles. There are special glands along the rim that help attract victims. They produce nectar with a pleasant smell. The trap has trigger hairs. If insects touch on these elements of the plant, “killers” of this kind begin to close. Therefore, victims have no chance to stay alive.
Darlington California
Man has long been no longer the last link in the food chain. A dominant individual is any creature that is capable of feeding itself, as well as reproducing, spending a minimum amount of energy.
One of the best hunters are killer plants (photo below in the article), which were called "Darlingtonia". She is better known as a cobra lily. The plant received a comparison with such an animal due to the fact that its shape and shades resemble a snake's hood.
Nepentes
Another dangerous creature for insects (and not only). The remaining 10 killer plants do not seem so "merciless" in comparison with a water lily (the famous name of this representative of the plant world).
The liana is widespread in Asia, especially on the islands. The third famous name for this plant is the “monkey cup”. This name appeared after scientists more than once observed how these animals drank rain water from a vine. Hunting leaves are made in the shape of a water lily, which helps to better hold the victim. The trap has a special liquid. She received from nature a rare and dense structure. All insects drown in it.
There are both small representatives and larger ones. The latter are able to absorb even small mammals: rats, birds, lizards, and so on.
Portuguese flycatcher
The plant grows in places where the soil is dry and infertile. As a rule, this is Africa and, as the name implies, Portugal.
The scientific "name" of this plant is the Lusitanian Rosolist. Flycatcher refers to sundews and acts approximately the same. Thanks to its glands, it gives off a delicious aroma that attracts insects. The latter, sitting on a plant, fall on a sticky surface, which entails their death. The individual's ability to digest food is quite good, because in one day it can absorb more than a dozen large insects.
Zhiryanka
This plant uses special sticky glands that help lure and eat all insects trapped. Leaves have two types of color: bright green or purple. "Killer" (a plant popular in many regions) has a pair of specific cells that form on the front of the leaves. One species gives off a secret. Representatives of the species have a rare structure and forms “dew” on the surface. Another is a source of enzymes that help carry out the digestion process. Victims are attracted by the vibrant color and dew.
Heliamphora
This plant attracts insects thanks to its beautiful, delicately folded leaves. Sometimes they resemble water lilies. Leaves are arranged so that they do not flood. There is a special slot, which is necessary to drain excess moisture. Such a mechanism is designed by nature so that the plant itself does not die in the process of killing the victim (by filling it with liquid).
How lures the heliamphor of victims? This is due to the fact that at the top of the water lily there is a special "spoon" that offers to "taste" the existing nectar. The leaf is covered with a path leading to the bowl where the digestive process takes place. An insect drowns in it, there is no turning back.
Pemphigus
Pemphigus is a plant that lives either in moist soil or in fresh water. The prey falls into the trap with the help of a special organ - the trapping bubble. The plant itself is small, so all the victims are small. We are talking about fleas or tadpoles. All bubbles have small openings that are closed by a special valve. It is he who ensures the ingress of insects into the plant and prevents their escape.
This view is unique and can be indoor. With no roots, pemphigus easily takes root anywhere. Therefore, some houseplants are killers that can be harmful or, conversely, help fight flies or mosquitoes.
Sarracenia
This plant is found in the Americas. It has special leaves that look like water lilies. They act as traps. Plants in the process of absorption of the victim turn into a funnel, which is very similar to a hood. Thanks to it, rainwater does not get inside, otherwise the digestive juices can overflow with excess fluid.
Insects are trapped in color, smell, and glands that resemble nectar. The surface has a slippery structure. Nectar is mixed with a narcotic substance. They detain the victim inside, she dies and is digested.
Biblis
This plant has a pretty appearance. The mucus that it secretes attracts insects. The surface of the leaves is covered with special hairs. They produce a sticky substance that traps small insects.
Dangerous houseplants
Do you know that cumin is a killer plant? Ever heard of this? This is one of the names of caraway seeds. It has both positive and negative properties that are dangerous to humans. The plant can cause severe allergic reactions.
What dangerous representatives of the plant world can be found in people's apartments?
- Aroid. These plants are quite common in offices or people's homes. They have juice, which causes inflammation of the mucous membrane. If a child eats at least a piece of leaf, he will receive severe poisoning.
- Euphorbiaceae. Such plants pose a great danger. If the leaves enter the body of any living creature, they will cause convulsions, vomiting and poisoning. In addition, the plant can cause burns.
- Nightshade. Jerusalem cherry is a bit like tomatoes. If you eat the fruits, then the person will receive poisoning, paralysis of internal organs will occur.
- Kutrovye. The plant has poison, which causes vomiting, tachycardia and more dangerous consequences.