Carnivorous Plants: The molecular biology behind the wonder plants

Nature has a plethora of fascinations with its microbial diversity to its unusual live forms. One of the many fascinations that have caught the interest of both scientists as well as common man are the insect eating plants. Against the conventionally prevailing norm of autotrophy among plants, this group has been successful in setting ripples in the scientific world. This article gives brief information regarding the habitat and nutrition of the group along with its evolutionary history describing the diversity that persists. The role of molecular biology in solving many unsolved mysteries concerning the mechanisms involved in the probable adaptation of carnivory by the group has been elucidated. The only species endemic to India, Nepenthes khasiana, has been described with its conservation and cultivation strategies employed. Owing to their different mode of nutrition, appearance and habitat, these can be referred to as the “Non-Veggies” of plant kingdom!!