Insectivorous Plants and Their Trapping Mechanism: A Review

Insectivorous and carnivorous plants are those plants that maintain their life by trapping and eating insects and other creatures and are known as ‘Hunter plants’. They are among the curiosities of nature, being specialized in their mode of acquiring nutrition. These plants are usually associated with nutrient poor soils and wetlands, where anaerobic condition exists and partial decomposition of organic matter occurs. Insectivorous plants are successful; because they supplement their photosynthetic food by trapping insect and digesting their nitrogen rich bodies. They have brilliant colours, nectarines glands, sweet secretions and other curious ways to lure their innocent victims. In India insectivorous plants are present in Kerala, Assam, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Nilgris in Tamil Nadu. The Pitcher plant, Nepenthes spp. are found in Khasie and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya. They have multipurpose uses. The sundew, Drosera indica is used in the preparation of gold- bhasma and D. peltata is used for dying silk. Nepenthes along with the debris of trapped insects inside, mixed with water is capable of curing cholera. Utricularia aurea and U. reticulate are suitable for aquaria and rockeries. The insects attracted by insectivorous plants include mosquitoes, housefly, small butterflies and beetles. They digest the insects through the secretion of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric and vaerianic acids. Insectivorous plants are very sensitive to pollutants. Some of the insectivorous plants have been extinct from the natural fauna and are included in red data book. Further field level studies and research are to be developed in this area to utilize these novel plants as a component of integrated pest management.