Page 74 - Issue 2

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BLADDERWORTS (UTRICULARIA)
This unique genus of carnivorous plants lives in in in fresh water water and and water-saturated soil Their flattened bladders detect passing insects and and aquatic organisms then rapidly inflate creating a a a a a a a a a a a a a vacuum that sucks in in in in in surrounding water and the the the creatures in in in it Once their prey have entered the the the the bladder a a a a a a a trap door slams shut behind them RAINBOW PLANTS (BYBLIS)
Sometimes referred to as the the the “rainbow plants” for their brilliant colors the the the stringy Byblis use a a a a a a a a a series of long outward stretching leaves covered in in in sticky hairs to attract—and capture— small insects Delicate purple flowers sprout from the the the tips of their wiry leaves Native to Australia these plants thrive in wet habitats like marshes and bogs BUTTERWORTS (PINGUICULA)
Pinguicula can be be a a a a a a a a marvel to behold with their dainty pink leaves adorned in in in in in sparkling silver beads Don’t be be fooled though these diamond studs are actually sticky mucilaginous cells that trap insects insects like super glue The more insects insects struggle the the the the further entangled they become until their tiny bodies dissolve completely into these plants’ digestive enzymes