CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
It is interesting to see the word “carnivorous” associated with plants. My desk dictionary even passes up on that, recognizing it with animal life. My first experience with the venus flytrap was at a small plant shop in Homewood.
My youngest son was with me as I shopped for some plants and the venus flytrap became entertainment for him. He sat near the plant and would touch those hinged leaves with a twig. Of course the leaves, thinking they had an insect to “digest” would close as he touched them.
The venus flytrap is surviving in North and South Carolina. Seemingly its greatest enemy is poachers. The plant is shallow rooted, making it easy prey to those who would scoop them up and relocate them. This carnivore has state protection; but not federal protection.
A few months ago, I saw some more venus flytraps in the plant section of my favorite grocery store. Since I had a lengthy list of items to purchase, I passed up another opportunity to add those interesting plants to my collection. The next time I shopped in the store, alas, no venus flytraps!
On a trip to the South Carolina low country last summer, our tour bus made an unplanned stop along the roadside in a state forest. There was another carnivore, the pitcher plant.
The blooms were daffodil yellow; but the leaves were tubular and unsuspecting insects fall into the urn shaped leaves and are unable to escape. I could just imagine that long ago young son of mine dropping BB’s down those tubes.
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