Some plants are cold-blooded killers… without having blood. They trick, they seduce, they trap and they devour- all without a smidgeon of conscience. Here’s a short list of the cruelest, meanest plants to ever take root in domestic areas... and we love them for it~
1. Nepenthes – Tropical Pitcher PlantsThe Tropical Pitcher plant, a carnivorous genus of plant, comes in two basic varieties: The first is found at altitudes above 1,000 meters and is fittingly called “highland Nepenthes”. The second variety flourishes in the tropical lowlands, and mixes or “climbs” above other plants in the area. Tropical Pitcher plants are as tough as they are beautiful, and grow just as healthily under artificial light as in an enclosed sun room.
2. Venus Fly TrapLike the Black Widow spider, the Venus Fly Trap ensnares it’s pray… and then unapologetically devours it. The plant emanates a sweet smell, seducing insects to land in its “mouth”. Almost immediately, the jaws snap shut and a powerful enzyme dissolves the insect into a digestible liquid.
3. Cobra Plants use womanly allure in order to feed. The leaf coloring commands its prey’s attention and the sensual smell of nectar draws the insect closer. Once the insect is ensnared, external bacteria set to work breaking the pray down.
4. Bladderworts are deprived of certain life-preserving nutrients. Instead of keeling over and dying they do the smart thing – they eat. A soft touch to the hair of the plant and the “bladder” sucks in the animal, dissolving the trapped meal in turn.
5. SunDews, also known as “the scourge of the bog”, show no mercy… systematically trapping and eating insects without conscious. The plant’s small hairs serve three purposes; to attract prey with sweet smells, to wrap around unsuspecting insects and to digest the catch. These aren’t simply joy kills; the sundew doesn’t get certain necessary minerals (such as nitrogen) from the soil and must compensate by consuming insectoid flesh.
6. Rainbow Plants sparkle colorfully in sunlight, but don’t point towards a pot of gold. On the contrary, unsuspecting prey learn that a brush with this “rainbow” leads to death… and digestion. Native only in Australia and New Guinea, the plant also births a beautiful purple flower.
7. Dewy Pine wafts the pleasant smell of honey into the air. This is just a farce to convince insects to land on the leaves. Tentacles on the leaves smear a thick “glue” on the insect, suffocating it in the process. Once it’s dead, digestion enzymes leave nothing behind but the insect’s exoskeleton.
8. Butterworts aren't nearly as “sweet” as they sounds. Insects that land on the sticky leaves are unable to extract themselves. Before long, that same slime digests the insect giving the plant valuable nutrients.
9. Waterwheel Plant operate similarly to the Venus Fly Trap – with a benefit. Where the Venus Fly Trap is land locked, the waterwheel floats freely in of water. And, just like the Fly Trap, it’s “mouth” snaps shut on any prey that lands on it.
10. Stinking Passion Flower don’t have to have a reason; take the stinking passion flower for instance. The plant’s leaves capture insects, similar to other carnivorous plants. However, scientists have yet to validate if the plant can even eat the catch or if the plant traps insects “just because”.
These plants need a lot of nutrients, but they're great keeps around the house if you ever want to get rid of the indoor pests~ Great garden material, right?!