Carnivorous plants are like other plants in that they gain their energy from the sun — through photosynthesis. But while other plants obtain their nutrients from soil, these unusual plants get their sustenance from the bodies of insects (and to a lesser extent, small frogs and rodents). There are almost 600 recognized species of carnivorous plants in the world, 66 of them live in North America. Here is our list of the top five carnivorous plants of North America.
Credit: (Vankich1/Shutterstock)
(Vankich1/Shutterstock
The fastest carnivorous plant in the world, the bladderwort is found throughout the United States. The plant has small, hollow structures (the bladders) – no bigger than a pinhead – that live under water and have a flexible valve. Bladderwort can trap its prey with astounding speed; its trapping mechanism is so quick that it has rarely been observed by scientists. The plant waits for its prey — ...
