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Protocarnivorous plant facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
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Nepenthes ampullaria is well-adapted to capture leaf litter.

A protocarnivorous plant is a plant that traps small animals (usually insects and arthropods) much like carnivorous plants do. Unlike carnivorous plants, these plants cannot get the nutritients from the trapped prey, though. The mechanisms of trapping are very similar to those developed by carnivorous plants. The problem is also one of definitions, as people do not agree what makes a carnivorous plant.

Images for kids

  • Passiflora bud

    Mucilage-tipped bracts and immature flower of Passiflora foetida, a protocarnivorous plant.

  • Illustration Erica tetralix0

    Charles Darwin postulated that Erica tetralix might be carnivorous

  • Darlingtonia californica ne1

    Darlingtonia californica does not produce its own digestive enzymes.

  • Colpfl22edited

    Plumbago auriculata, showing the abundant trichomes present on the calyces.

  • Stylidium productum

    A protocarnivorous flypaper trap below the flowers of Stylidium productum.

  • Pameridea

    An assassin bug (Pameridea roridulae) on Roridula gorgonias, which obtains nutrients from its 'prey' via the droppings of the assassin bug.

  • Dipsacus-fullonum-water-storage

    The water reservoir of Dipsacus fullonum, a pitfall trap.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Planta protocarnívora para niños

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Protocarnivorous plant Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.