CARNIVOROUS PLANTS

FÆLDETYPE
ARTER
SLÆGT
FAMILIE
UDBREDELSE
PASSIV Faldgrube

2
1
15
1
8
117
1

Brocchinia
Catopsis
Heliamphora
Darlingtonia
Sarracenia
Nepenthes (kandebærer)
Cephalotus

Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Nepenthaceae
Cephalotaceae

Venezuela, Guayana
Sydlige Florida - SØ Brasilien
Guayana
Oregon - Californien
Østlige USA - Midt Canada
SØ Asien, Madagascar
SV Australien
Limpind
1
2-7
1
1
Ibicella
Byblis
Triphyophyllum
Drosophyllum
Martyniaceae
Byblidaceae
Dioncophyllaceae
Drosophyllaceae
Sydlige USA - Mexico
Vest Australien
Sierra Leone - Liberia
Portugal - Marokko (kyster)
A
K
T
I
V
Langsom Fluepapir
96
209
Pinguicula (vibefedt)
Drosera (soldug)
Lentibulariaceae
Droseraceae
Nordlige halvkugle
Hele verden undtagen Antarktis
Hurtig Rævesaks
1
1
Dionaea
Aldrovanda
Droseraceae
Droseraceae
N og S Carolina (USA)
Central Eurasien, Afrika, Kina
Musefælde
225
Utricularia (blærerod)
Lentibulariaceae
Hele verden undtagen Antarktis
Pumpe Åleruse
21
Genlisea Lentibulariaceae Afrika, Mellem-Syd

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS - AN OVERVIEW

In the table, all links connect to pages in English

TRAP TYPE
SPECIES
GENUS
FAMILY
DISTRIBUTION
PASSIVE

Pitfall

2
1
15
1
8
117
1

Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Sarraceniaceae
Nepenthaceae
Cephalotaceae

Venezuela, Guayana
Southern Florida – SE-Brasil
Guayana
Oregon – California
Eastern USA – Cenral Canada
SE-Asia, Madagascar
SW-Australien

Lime twig

1
2-7
1
1

Ibicella
Byblis
Triphyophyllum
Drosophyllum

Martyniaceae
Byblidaceae
Dioncophyllaceae
Drosophyllaceae

Southern USA – Mexico
West Australia
Sierra Leone – Liberia
Portugal – Morocco (coastal)

ACTIVE
Slow

Flypaper

96
209

Lentibulariaceae
Droseraceae

Northern hemisphere
Global except Antarctica

Fast

Fox trap

1
1

Droseraceae
Droseraceae

N and S Carolina (USA)
Central Eurasia, Africa, Australia, China, Japan

Mouse trap

225

Lentibulariaceae

Global except Antarctica

Pump

Eel trap

21

Genlisea

Lentibulariaceae

Africa, Central America-South America

Comments to the table:

Carnivorous plants are defined as plants able to a) lure, b) catch, c) break down smaller animals by an exogenous (outside, i.e. on the surface of the trap) digestive process and d) absorb the digestive products by special glands on the surface of the trap. Several plants have the ability to carry out one or more of the items, but all four items must be fulfilled before a plant can be classified as carnivorous.

The classification used in the table above considers if the trap or part of the trap perform a movement during the capture (Passive, Active) and the method used for capturing prey. In some genera the number of species has increased considerably in recent years, primarily as a consequence of splitting up ‘old’ species. In this way the total number of carnivorous flowering plants is now about 600.

Drosophyllum was earlier included in Droseraceae. The genus Biovularia is now included in Utricularia, and some taxonomists argue that Polypompholyx should also be included in Utricularia. Lentibulariaceae is often used as synonym for Utriculariaceae, the bladderwort family. The genera Brocchinia, Catopsis, and Ibicella also include non-carnivorous species. In species rich genera, the shown figure is most likely a minimum figure since it is still possible to find new species in poorly investigated areas.

The Danish page Carnivori på frimærker shows stamps with carnivorous plants as motive.

 

H. S. Heide-Jørgensen – updated January 2024