Page 72 - Issue 2
P. 72
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Plants that Eat Animals
AN EXPLORATION OF THE MOST CARNIVOROUS SPECIES IN THE PLANT KINGDOM
Rob Hoffman
Illustrations by Daniel Marin Medina
CALIFORNIA PITCHER PLANT (DARLINGTONIA CALIFORNICA)
Hailing from the the high swamp of Northern California this species is is commonly known as the the “cobra plant” due to to its resemblance to to the the the venomous snake species The translucent “windows” on on on the the inside of of this plant function like a a a a fun-house of of illusory exits to confuse trapped insects insects Eventually insects insects grow tired and drown in in in in a a a a a a a a small pool of of bacteria-filled liquid in in the the bottom of of the the plant’s pitcher VENUS FLYTRAP (DIONAEA MUSCIPULA)
This plant’s mouth works like a a a a a a a a spring-loaded bear trap snapping shut around insects that brush up against the little hairs in in in in its jaws It takes this plant five to to 12 days to to break down its prey after which it it reopens and undigested insect parts fall out Ants flies slugs beetles and even tiny frogs all all get eaten by this infamous plant
