Plants eating animals

Plants eating animals

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1. The Pitcher Plant grows in nutrient-deficient soils. To make up for this, it has found an alternative way to get nutrients.

2. It produces a sweet-smelling liquid at the bottom of its "cup" structure, which attracts insects. 

3. Any unlucky insect which falls in will find it impossible to get out due to the slippery inner walls. 

4. The insect gradually drowns and becomes food for the plant.

5. It is a carnivorous perennial (lives more than 2 years) herb with yellowish-green, hollow, pitchershaped leaves. 

6. Short, stiff hairs inside the pitcher pointing downwards allow insects into the plant but prevent them from crawling out. 

7. Carnivorous plants are plants that get some or most of their nutrients from trapping and digesting insects. 

8. The lid or hood is at the top of the plant. It’s purpose is to prevent too much rain water from diluting the enzymes in the pitcher.

9. The main body is the pitcher shaped tube. The plant produces a nectar that entices insects inside the pitcher. The insects become trapped and are digested by enzymes. The pitcher ranges from 8-30 inches tall and has purple veins.

10. Basal leaves are shorter flat sickle shaped leaves at the bottom of the plant. A basal leaf is one that grows from the lowest part of the stem.

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11. An added danger for insects is the plant’s partnership with the crab spider .  This crafty-creature makes the "pitcher" his permanent abode-though it keeps well away from the digestive juice, to live in a sort of peaceful coexistence.

12. Inside the pitcher the table is set for the spider, who feeds on the insects attracted by the plant. He is, however, considerate to his landlord-it would not do if the latter died of starvation-and sees to it that enough goes into the digestive juice for the plant's maintenance. Though he keeps well away from the dangerous stuff beneath him, he really has no great fear, since he has developed a hard protective coat to neutralize the effects of the juice. In fact when danger threatens, he actually submerges himself in it until the threat is past, when he comes out once again unscathed.