Carnivorous plants – Hunters of the plant world

Carnivorous plants, also known as carnivores, are among the most fascinating plants in nature. They have developed an extraordinary strategy for surviving in nutrient-poor habitats. As the soils in which they grow are often very acidic and contain hardly any nutrients, they obtain part of their food in an unusual way: they catch insects and other small animals.

Over 800 species of carnivorous plants are known worldwide. Among the best known are the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), the sundew (Drosera), the butterwort (Pinguicula), the pitcher plant (Sarracenia) and the pitcher plant (Nepenthes). Most species are found in the tropics and subtropics. However, carnivorous plants are also native to our Alps — butterworts in particular thrive here.

Carnivorous plants use ingenious methods to catch their prey. Sundews (Drosera) lure their prey with glistening sticky droplets, pitcher plants rely on ingenious traps, and the famous Venus flytrap snaps shut in a flash. 

The captured animals are then broken down by digestive enzymes so that the plants can absorb the valuable nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Their astonishing adaptations make carnivorous plants impressive examples of the diversity and ingenuity of nature.

We hope you enjoy discovering this unique world of plants. But be careful: who knows who’s actually watching whom here?

This greenhouse is home to a number of plants from the list of genera below:

Sundews — Drosera

Venus flytraps — Dionaea

Butterworts — Pinguicula

Pitcher plants — Sarracenia