Most carnivorous plants eat crawling, foraging, and flying insects. Those that live in water capture smaller animals also living in water, such as tiny tadpoles and mosquitoes. And there are even rare occasions where carnivorous plants have been found to catch little frogs. The 10 most popular carnivorous plants of South America have been identified and listed below.
Wonder how did all Carnivorous plants evolve their taste for meat? Find out in one of our articles here.
Sun Pitcher Plants
With lily-like flowers and tall stems, the sun pitchers of South America are loved by growers of carnivorous plants because of their simplicity. Closely related to the Darlingtonia and Sarracenia of North America, these are the only pitcher plants that are found in South America.
Perfectly adapted to survive in areas with high winds, the plant can be found at the top of the Tepui Mountains. If you are thinking of growing these meat-eating vegetables, then you must be aware of the fact that they need special care for them to grow properly. They will only grow properly under shining light, high humidity, and cool terrariums.
The sun pitcher uses the same tricks used by other pitcher breeds to capture their prey. They have a pitfall trap that includes a slippery tube and sweet-scented aroma trails that run from the top to bottom of the pitcher. The aroma plays a significant role in attracting crawling bugs. Over the years, the sun pitcher has evolved rapidly to refine its trapping mechanism further.
To learn more about caring for a Pitcher Plant, read one of our articles found in this link: How to Take Care of a Pitcher Plant?
Interesting Facts:
- The Sun pitcher has beautiful flowers that emerge from the plant’s stems during spring and winter. The flowers progressively open alongside the length of the stem and require a unique cross-pollination technique.
- The sun pitchers can be found at the top of the Tepui Mountains in the Guyana Highlands, Northern Brazil, and Southern Venezuela. That is a magical area which is about 6000 to 8000 feet above sea level and rises even above the clouds.
Butterwort
The name comes from the plant’s broad leaves that appeared to be coated with butter. The plant grows in Central America, South America, North America, and Eurasia. Instead of producing a sweet-scented smell, the plant lures bugs that mistake their pearly leaf secretions with water. Once the prey has landed on the leaf, it gets stuck in the substance and slowly dissolved by the digestive enzymes. These enzymes are secreted with the sole intention of speeding up the digestion process. It is easy to tell whether the butterwort has eaten an insect.
Interesting Facts:
- Butterwort’s botanical name is Pinguicula, a Latin name meaning “creamy or sticky leaf.” The name was given by Conrad Gesner, a botanist, back in 1561 because of the plant’s unique nature. They are perennial species that belong to the Lentifbulariaceae
- There are about 12 species of butterwort plants that can survive in high altitude terrains with frigid temperatures and rocky soils.
- Butterworts have sticky leaves and brightly colored flowers. The leaves of the plant have many small hairlike structures. The leaves secrete a mucous fluid that traps insects. Also, the plants have succulent leaves; it is their musty smell that lures bugs.
- Pinguicula vulgaris is a unique species of butterworts grown in nurseries, greenhouses, and homes. If placed in a growing chamber, the potted plants will grow very well. Nonetheless, besides being insect eaters, the plant can also be attacked by diseases and pests. Furthermore, the plant is prone to nematodes and crow-rot disease that can quickly destroy the plant.
Brocchinia reducta
Brocchinia reducta is native to Guyana, Colombia, Brazil, and Southern Venezuela. The plant comes equipped with long, thin pitchers that reflect ultraviolet light; that they use to attract insects. In the same way as other carnivorous plants featured on this list, the plant produces a sweet aroma that lures insects. For many years, botanist researchers were not sure whether Brocchinia reducta belonged to the carnivorous breed until digestive enzymes were discovered in the plant’s copious bell.
Interesting Facts:
- Many insects reside in the plant, including an insect larva that miraculously survives, considering the acidic nature of the secreted fluids.
- Brocchinia reducta have urn-like pitfalls formed from the tightly assembled leaf bases, a significant characteristic of the family. Unlike other carnivorous plants, Brocchinia does not secrete digestive enzymes; instead, they depend on bacteria to dissolve their prey.
Catopsis berteroniana
Native to South America, plants in this genus have soft and floppy green leaves that form a vase-like urn. In most plants, the base of a leaf has a waxy appearance. These Bromeliad species grow high in the treetops. They are also known as the jungle lantern because they have a brilliant yellow color. The powdery, waxy coat plays a significant role in attracting unsuspecting prey. Once trapped in the plant’s central urn, the insect is dissolved to provide nutrients to the plant.
Interesting Facts:
- The plants can only be found growing high on top of trees.
- The insects are trapped in the plant’s central urn.
Portuguese Sundew
Several characteristics make sundews very appealing. The Portuguese sundew grows in soils that lack nutrients around the coastal areas of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. Since they grow in nutrient-poor soils, you can excuse these plants for trying to supplement their diet with an occasional bug or insect. In the same way as other carnivorous plants on this list, Portuguese sundew uses their sweet aroma to entice prey. They then trap the insect in a sticky substance known as mucilage, secretes enzymes that aid in digestion, and slowly digests the unfortunate bug. Finally, the dissolved bug is absorbed as nutrients to meet the plant’s dietary needs. Keep in mind that this plant does not share any similarity to Drosophila (fruit fly).
Interesting Facts:
- The Portuguese sundew eats all insect species, including mosquitoes, spiders, and flies.
- If triggered by an insect, the plant can bend its leaves inwards in only a few seconds; some species can snap shut in less than 1/10 of a second.
Drosera intermedia
Also known as the spoon-leaf sundew, is a southern America native carnivorous plant. The plant is known for its uniques leaves covered in mucilaginous glands. The sticky fluid allows it to trap insects, which are then slowly digested.
The leaves are a fascinating characteristic of the sundew because of the red sticky glands covering it, which produce sweet nectar to lure insects. Once it has trapped an insect, the plant produces digestive enzymes to dissolve the prey so it can absorb nutrients.
Interesting Facts:
The spoon-leaf sundew secrets a sticky liquid that lures and captures insects; once caught, the insect is digested.
A Drosera intermedium is a perennial plant that lives for many years.
Corkscrew Plant
Unlike other carnivorous plants found on this list of strange species, the corkscrew plant is not very interested in bugs. Instead, protozoans and other small animals are the plant’s main diet. The plant uses its specialized leaves, which grow under the soil to lure and eat the microscopic creatures. These underground root-like leaves are long and pale. However, the Genlisea species are known to have typical green leaves, which sprout above the soil for photosynthesis. Commonly classified as herbs because of their root-like appearance, corkscrew plants grow in South America, Central America, and the semi-aquatic regions of Africa.
Interesting Facts:
- It is the only carnivorous plant with underground traps; each of the leaves is 2-6 inches long. The traps resemble a corkscrew or a prolonged fork.
- Also known as Juncus effusus by botanists, the corkscrew is an herbaceous perennial. It is semi-evergreen in the hotter areas, something unexpected from a plant that grows in soils that lack enough nutrients. The plant becomes invasive in warm climates.
Genlisea tuberosa
Genlisea tuberosa is a carnivorous breed found in Brazil. It has a pale stack of underground root-like structures whose purpose is to lure, capture, and dissolve protozoans. Their subterranean leaves do not have chlorophyll.
Interesting Facts:
- They are endemic in South America, especially Brazil. The plant only grows in fast-draining sandy soils and, therefore, can only be found in the wet regions.
- The plant was first discovered in the late 1980’s by Thomas Carow, a carnivorous plant specialist.
Ibicella lutea
Ibicella lutea is a fast-spreading annual plant that grows up to 1 meter wide. The plant produces a strong, unpleasant smell that attracts insects. Also, the leaves are covered with a sticky fluid where the insect gets stuck. The insect eventually dies from exhaustion as it tries to escape.
Interesting Facts:
- Ibicella lutea does not secrete digestive enzymes to dissolve the prey. Also, it does not absorb nutrients from the dead insect.
- Naturally growing in South America and recently has been found as a non-native species in areas such as California and South Africa.
Utricularia viscosa
Utricularia viscosa is a small perennial carnivorous plant that is native to South America. The plant grows as a sub-aquatic or terrestrial plant in the wet sandy savannas.
Interesting Facts:
- Originally, the plant was named by Richard Spruce, but later it was formally introduced by Daniel Oliver in 1860.
- The plant is native to South America (Venezuela, Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil) and Central America (Nicaragua and Belize).
