Content
- In the rainforest there are also carnivorous plants
- Which meat-eating plants grow in the rainforest?
- Pitcher plants are available in more than 100 species
- Some pitcher plants even eat mammals
- Tips
There are over 100 different types of pitcher plants
In the rainforest there are also carnivorous plants
There are over 700 types of fresh meat plants all over the world. The plants also called carnivores love it bright and moist. But even in the dark rainforest, representatives of this interesting plant genus occur. Pitcher plants from the rainforest are popular indoor plants with us.
Which meat-eating plants grow in the rainforest?
Although it is very humid in the rainforest, a lot of sun does not fall in the lower regions. Nevertheless, some carnivorous plants grow here as well. The best known carnivore from the rainforest is the pitcher plant (Nepenthes).
It occurs mainly in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, but also on Borneo some species were discovered.
Obviously, the pitcher plant needs less sun in the wild than other carnivorous plants.
Pitcher plants are available in more than 100 species
Meanwhile, over 100 different species of pitcher plant have been found. However, as the rainforests are far from being fully explored, there are likely to be a few more.
The pitcher plants loop up their long shoots with the leaves on the trees. They develop bulbous jars that actually look like pitchers. They exude an aromatic and sometimes foul smell that attracts prey. At the top, the jugs are as smooth as glass, so that no insect can hold onto it, but slip into the trap.
In the lower part of the pot is a liquid, which provides for the digestion of the captured prey.
Some pitcher plants even eat mammals
In the main, pitcher plants feed on insects such as mosquitoes, flies and everything that happens in the rainforest.
There is even a huge pitcher plant species that makes large pitchers so they can catch rats and squirrels. "Nepenthes Rajah" is the name of this strain. Your safety gear can be up to 80 centimeters long. It takes a long time, of course, until such animals are digested.
Of course, pitcher plants that you cultivate as an ornamental plant do not get that big. For pets, there is no danger from flesh-fresh plants.
Tips
There is only one small animal species in the rainforest that does not become the prey of a pitcher plant: a special ant species. The ants can even walk through the digestive secretions. For this they keep the edges of the cans nice and smooth.