The Curious Case of Carnivorous Plants
Anyone who has spent enough time in Florida knows that our native ecosystems are unique. We casually talk about encounters with reptiles that walked among the dinosaurs, or flying insects that evoke feelings of vintage horror films. Florida is a treasure trove of the weird and wonderful, and one group of species helps lead the way. They yield sticky tentacles, grow hairs, and set traps. Sometimes resembling species from another planet, they seem to defy the rules of ours. I'm speaking, of course, of Florida's carnivorous plants. Florida is home to approximately 30 species of carnivorous plants, more than any other state in the U.S. The most notable feature of carnivorous plants is their diet, which consists of live prey. You may be asking yourself why a plant would evolve this way. Carnivorous plants are freshwater wetland species that thrive in wet, acidic soils which are low in nutrients. They can be found in habitats such as bogs, floodplain forests, and swamps. They make u...