carnivorous-plant

carnivorous-plantThe battle for survival has evolved plants far beyond their conventional boundaries. Plants which are mostly thought of as static objects have put themselves in the race of predators. When the food becomes scarce, plants don’t just rely on photosynthesis. But many species of plants also eat meat as their food source. These plants are called carnivorous (meat-eating) plants that rely on smaller animals such as insects and frogs as their food source.

Why Do Plants Eat Meat?

Carnivorous plants are mostly found in places where the soil is poor in minerals. These plants can’t get necessary nutrients from the soil with the help of their roots. So, they have developed specialized adaptations and mechanisms to catch prey to meet their nutrient needs. But it should not be confused with how animals consume and process the food. Carnivorous plants use different methods for absorbing nutrients from smaller prey. Carnivorous plants mostly consume insects and smaller animals, such as bees, flies, and smaller frogs.

How Carnivorous Plants Catch Prey

There are about 630 known species of carnivorous plants on the Earth. These species have evolved 5 different types of trapping mechanisms to catch their prey. Most of the carnivorous plants use only one type of trapping mechanism. These trapping mechanisms are:

  1. Pitfall (Pitcher) trap
  2. Flypaper trap
  3. Snap trap
  4. Bladder trap
  5. Lobsters-pot trap

Pitfall (Pitcher) Trap

Heliamphora-chimantensis
Heliamphora Chimantensis

Carnivorous Plants that use this trap have funnel-shaped slippery leaves. When bugs land on their leaves, they just slide to the bottom of the leaf and fall into their digestive enzyme pool where they are digested. These plants attract bugs by their sweet-smelling nectar and attractive appearance. Heliamphora chimantensis is the species of plants that use this trapping mechanism.

Flypaper Trap

drosera-capensis
Drosera Capensis

In this trap, plants use special glue on their leaves that is secreted by their glands. When bugs sit on their leaves, they are stuck on it and can’t fly away. The captured insects are stuck in such a way that their struggle makes them more entangled. After that, digestive enzymes are secreted on the prey for digestion and absorption. Drosera capensis plant uses this trapping mechanism.

Snap Trap

venus-flytrap
Venus Flytrap

In this trap, plants catch their prey with their mouth-shaped leaves whose outer edge is covered with spiky hairs. When a bug lands on its leaf, the plant senses its movement with the help of its sensitive trigger hairs. After the movement sensation, the mouth-shaped leaves (lobes) are shut closed instantly to capture the prey tightly. Then, digestive enzymes are secreted on the prey to break down its body for absorption of nutrients. Venus Flytrap uses this kind of trap to catch bugs.

Bladder Trap

Utricularia-vulgaris
Utricularia Vulgaris

Carnivorous Plants that use this type of trap dwell in water bodies. These plants have a special structure called a bladder along with a door that acts like a valve. The door of the bladder is normally closed to create a vacuum inside. When the sensitive hairs of the plant are triggered, the door opens rapidly and water rushes inside the bladder along with the prey. Then, the door gets closed and digestion of the prey starts. Utricularia vulgaris plant uses this kind of trap.

Lobsters-pot Trap

Genlisea-violacea
Genlisea Violacea

These carnivorous plants have modified chamber-like leaves which makes it easy for the bugs to enter, but very difficult to go outside. Also, it has inward-pointing spines which makes the outside route very difficult. These plants attract prey by secreting a substance that looks similar to food particles. After a successful catch, these plants also secrete digestive enzymes on the prey for digestion. Genlisea violacea plant uses this kind of trap.

Size of Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous plants mostly grow up to 12 inches (1 foot) long, so they are unlikely to trap people and bigger animals. However, some species can grow to a length 3 three feet. The size of carnivorous plants also depends on environmental conditions, such as the availability of sunlight, soil composition, and water quality.

Fun Facts

  • Venus flytraps are very famous carnivorous plants due to their jaw-shaped leaves that catch bugs.
  • The United States grows more carnivorous plants than any other country.
  • Curious people around the World also grow carnivorous plants in their gardens. Under controlled conditions, carnivorous plants can grow larger than their normal size.
Roots-of-Plants

Roots-of-PlantsThe roots of a plant are its most essential parts. They grow in different patterns downward in the soil as compared to the plant’s stem and leaves. They store and provide water and nutrients from the soil, then transport them throughout the plant. Besides, they also help the soil to remain stable and fix nitrogen to serve as fertilizer for plant growth. Carrots, onions, mangroves, and many other types of plants and vegetables grow on the plant roots.

What Are Plant Roots?

The root is the basic part of a plant. It is located at the bottom of the plant. Roots are primarily found in vascular plants, which contain xylems and phloem. When roots absorb the necessary nutrients and water, they transport it by Xylem and phloem.

Moreover, the entire body of a plant is held up by the root, therefore, one of its main functions is the anchorage of plants. The anchorage means the attachment of the plant to the soil surface to support it upward and downward.

Types Of Roots

There are three types of plant roots. These types differ from each other based on their growth patterns.

1. TAP ROOTS

Tap-rootsTap roots are the plant roots that grow inside the soil surface. Tap means primary. The initial stage of the tap root is called the Radicle. At this stage, the seed begins to develop downward in the soil and begins to attach itself to the soil. These tap roots grow always perpendicular to the soil but in a downward direction. These roots are also used for food storage purposes. The following vegetables are good examples of taproots: carrot, beetroot, mustard, and turnip. The tap roots differ from other root types based on their development from two parts of the seed leaf called dicots.

2. FIBROUS ROOTS

Fibrous-rootsFibrous roots, also known as bushy roots, develop from a single part of the stem also known as a monocot. These roots grow parallel to the soil from the roots. Their growth takes place from the stem of plants containing many branches. Grasses, rice, wheat, onions, and various others are examples of fibrous roots. Due to their development from the stem of a plant, Fibrous roots are also known as secondary roots. Fibrous roots need to have moisture and nutrients from air and soil, therefore, like tap roots, these roots also have root hair.

3. ADVENTITIOUS ROOTS

Adventitious-rootsAdventitious roots are the third type of plant roots that grow out from the plant hanging in the air and often bend down to soil, mud, and water. They can grow from the stem or leaf of plants. Like fibrous roots, adventitious roots also grow from one part of the seed leaf, hence classified as monocots. Mangroves, orchids, screw pine, and corn are the best examples of adventitious roots. They arise in the air, therefore, also known as aerial roots.

Functions Of Roots

Different functions of plant roots play vital roles in the growth and health of plants. From anchorage to supplying nutrients to plants is done by plant roots.

Anchorage

The root provides support for a plant to grow vertically from the stem. It grows beneath the soil, so it gives fixation to the plant to stand on the root.

Absorption

The root absorbs water and minerals from the soil which are required in the making of the food.

Food Storage

The root also functions for storing food. When plants produce starch, they store excess amounts in the roots so that they can be consumed later.

Erosion Control

Roots also play an essential role in controlling the erosion of the soil. The root holds the soil firmly and doesn’t let it slip away.

Nitrogen fixation

The roots also function to fix the nitrogen in plants. For example, leguminous plants that produce beans, chickpeas, soybeans, peanuts, and lentils have bacteria living in plant roots. These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia and nitrate which are good fertilizers for plants.

Australia-Continent-Map-on-the-globe

Australia-Continent-Map-on-the-globeAustralia is the smallest continent and is a part of a large geographic region called Oceania. It is isolated from other continents and is surrounded by Ocean. Australia’s west is bordered by the Indian Ocean and its east is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. There are several nearby islands countries to Australia, some of which are New Zealand, Indonesia, and East Timor.

Geography

Australia is a unique continent due to its diversity in geographical features and climate. It covers an area of 7.7 million Km2 – which is roughly 1.5% of Earth’s total surface area. This is the smallest continent by area and 6th largest continent by population. It has 25,000 kilometers of coastline which is populated by a variety of marine creatures. Furthermore, this continent also has deserts, mountain ranges, plains, and coastal areas.

Land Features

The continental terrain of Australia has a wide range of features and natural beautiful places. Here are some of the famous land features.

Great Dividing Range

The-Great-Dividing-RangeIt is the mountain range that is spread over 3,500 kilometers of the eastern coast. This mountain range has a lot of influence on the climate and rainfall patterns in eastern regions. It is also the nurturing ground of a unique fauna and flora.

Australian Outback

Australian-OutbackIt is a vast open area with an arid climate and many rock formations. Due to the iconic reddish-colored environment, it is often called the “Red Centre”. The human population in this vast area is very sparse – only 12,500 people were living in 2023. But this region has many social and belief values for the natives.

The Great Barrier Reef

Great-Barrier-ReefIt is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites located on Australia’s northeast coast. This natural wonder is famous for a variety of marine life ecosystems and coral formations. The Great Barrier Reef stretches from Australia and spreads over an area of 348,700 km² in the ocean.

Climate

Australia-ClimateAustralia experiences a range of climates in its different parts due to its large size and diverse topography.

  • Tropical Climate – Australia’s northern regions have mostly tropical climates – which means hot temperatures and definite dry and wet seasons.
  • Temperate Climate – Southern Australian regions have temperate climates. These regions experience all four seasons and have milder temperatures.
  • Arid Climate – Central Australia has a large desert area and has an arid climate. In this region, temperatures are hot, and low rainfall.

People and Cultures

Australia-CultureAustralia has a rich cultural and art diversity. The main cause of diversity in this isolated continent is due to the mixture of natives, immigrant influences, and multicultural ethos. Today’s Australia is shaped mostly by immigrants arriving from different parts of the Earth. The most significant influences were created during European colonization in the 18th century.

Australia’s diverse population has made it a linguistic tapestry – more than 400 languages are spoken. However, the most dominant language is English but efforts are being carried out to preserve the indigenous language. Religiously, Australia is home to all the major religions with Christianity being the most dominant religion. Other religions practiced in Australia are Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

Most of the population in Australia is concentrated in urban areas close to the eastern and southern coastline. The most populated cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. However, rural areas also play an important role in the economy of Australia in the field of agriculture.

Facts

  • Australia’s 90% population lives in cities that are located near its shores due to large deserts in central Australia.
  • 80% of the animals in Australia are unique to it and are not found in other parts of the world.
  • Tasmania Island – located near Australia’s mainland – has the cleanest air on the Earth.
plant-structures

plant-structuresThere is a large variety of plants with different sets of structures. However, these plants can be categorized into vascular plants and non-vascular plants. Vascular plants have a system of special tissue called the xylem and phloem. These tissues transport water and other nutrients throughout the plant. You can consider the purpose of these tissues to be similar to the blood vessels of animals.

The non-vascular plants don’t have xylem and phloem and their structure is different. Here we will be covering the structure of vascular plants for easy understanding.

Roots

Roots are the part of a plant that are buried in the soil. They grow out of the seeds during germination. Roots perform very important tasks, which include:

  • Absorbing the water and the necessary nutrients from the soil and sending them to different parts of the plant through special tissues called the xylem and phloem.
  • Roots provide a good grip on the stem of a plant so that it can bear its weight and withstand winds.
  • Some specialized plants store the food in their roots for later use. Examples of these plants are carrots and potatoes.

Stems

stem-of-a-pantStems are connected with the roots and grow outside the soil. All the parts of the plants are connected to the stems. When a plant is young, its stems are green. But as they grow older, their stems turn their color and also become hard. Stem performs many functions, which include:

  • It provides support to the leaves, flowers, and fruits.
  • It carries the water and nutrient absorbed by the roots to all parts of a plant.
  • Stems also store food in many plants, e.g. sugar cane.

Buds

bud-of-a-plantBuds look like a bump on the stem of a plant. These are the developing shoots, which later become the branches of a plant.

Leaves

leaves-of-a-plantLeaves are an important part of the plants mostly having green color (not all plants have green-colored leaves). They contain chlorophyll which gives green color to leaves and absorbs energy from sunlight to make food. The food is prepared in the leaves in a process called photosynthesis. In this process, plants take carbon dioxide gas from the air and light from the Sun to make food. Also, they produce oxygen for us to breathe as a byproduct of photosynthesis.

Flowers

flower-of-a-plantWhen the plants become mature, they produce flowers (only flowering plants produce flowers). Flowers have beautiful colors and attractive fragrances. They play an important role in the reproduction of flowering plants. When the pollination happens in the flower, it turns into seeds or fruits.

Fruits

apple
Apple

Fruits are the parts of plants that are produced after pollination. They contain the seeds of the plants inside. The fruits are made when the female parts of a flower are pollinated. Making delicious fruits is the strategy used by plants to disperse their seeds to different locations. Because fruits are delicious, when animals and humans eat them, they will through their seeds on the land.

Facts

  • Flowers have eye-catching colors and good smells to attract insects and animals to carry their pollen from the male part to the female part.
  • Humans use around 2,000 different species of plants in their food.
  • Some plants eat insects as their food. These plants are called carnivorous plants.
growing-plant

growing-plantPlants are the most important part of our ecosystem which are found in almost every part of the Earth. They are found in oceans, deserts, mountains, plains, and also in other harsh environments. No matter where the plant lives, they all grow in a somewhat similar manner. There are around 380,000 known species of plants; some species grow from seeds, while others grow from spores.

So, how do these plants grow from a seed or spore to a fully mature plant? There are many things that plants need for their growth besides just planting a seed or spore.

What Plants Need to Grow?

Plants need many things for their growth. These things are listed below:

  1. Water –Water is the basic ingredient of every living thing. There would be no living thing on the Earth without water. Plants need a clean supply of water to survive. They absorb the water with the help of their roots. Vascular plants transport water along with nutrients throughout their whole structure with the help of xylem tissues. If the water is not sufficient or the land is too dry, then the plants may die.
  2. Soil –Plants anchor their roots in the soil, which provides them with good support. Plants absorb the water and nutrients from the soil. The soil needs to be rich in nutrients for plants’ healthy growth. When the soil is not rich in nutrients, farmers use different kinds of artificial and natural fertilizers to provide the necessary nutrients to the soil.
  3. Air –Plants take the carbon dioxide from the air for making their food in a process called photosynthesis. The air must be clean for their healthy growth. If the air is too polluted with smoke and harmful gases, then the growth of the plant is highly affected.
  4. Light –Plants make their food by photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, plants get light from the Sun and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for making food. So, plants need good exposure to sunlight. If Sunlight is not sufficient, the plants may grow thin and tall in search of light.
  5. Temperature –Temperature is an important factor for plant growth. Some plants are adapted to grow in hot environments. Whereas, many plants are well adapted to grow in cold environments.
  6. Space –Plants need sufficient space for the growth of their roots, and the necessary supply of fresh air. If plants grow very near to each other, they won’t be able to get a good space for spreading their roots. Also, the branches and leaves will become crowded, which will make it difficult for the plants for getting fresh air, sufficient nutrients from the soil, and sunlight.

Besides these things, plants need time to grow. You can’t grow a plant to its full length overnight. They will take time along with necessary things for their growth.

Growth of Stem

Stem is an important structure of vascular plants that supports the other structures of the plants such as roots, buds, shoots, and leaves. Many don’t stop their growth after reaching maturity. Instead, they grow throughout their lifespan. There are two types of growth in the stem of plants; primary growth and secondary growth.

The primary growth of the stem is referred to as the increase in the length of the stem. Whereas, secondary growth is referred to the increase in the thickness of the stem. These two types of growth are very common in woody plants such as redwood.

Interesting Facts

  • Bamboos are the fastest-growing plant. They can grow about 35 inches in a single day.
  • Some plants have evolved to withstand the dry climate, that can survive on very little water. These plants are called xerophytes.
  • The tallest treesaround the world are Redwood. They reach a height of 91 meters (300 feet).
  • Watermeal or Wolffia is the smallest flowering plant. It is about the size of a rice grain.