Ranging from the hot bogs of North Carolina to the icy peaks of Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, carnivorous are masters of persuasion. They live in nutrient-poor environments, and rely on their roots for the absorption of water, totally incapable of capturing substances necessary for healthy growth. To attain these, carnivorous plants have devised ways of convincing the creatures around them to donate to the plants' growth. Many of the intricate natural traps, like the one above, is totally passive, employing vividly subtle devices to lure flying and crawling insects, frogs, and even mice to their doom. The most obvious of the strategies is imagery, creating scenes of shelter in safety. Be it nice lids to keep flies safe from rain and wind, apparent dewdrops as a source of water, or intoxicatingly sweet nectar, carnivorous plants are irresistible to the senses of their audience. False comforts also lend them credibility, as they assume the persona of a paradise, constructed just for their prey's pleasure.
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| What a beautiful and comfy umbrella! |
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| A sparkling landing pad. |
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| A feast of narcotic nectar. |
On the topic of nectar, carnivorous plants also apply a logical progression to lure prey into their pseudo-mouths for digestion. Nectar can be found dotting stems and leaves, but it always heaviest just inside the slippery rim of a pitcher, or near the trigger hairs that spring-close a Venus flytrap. They entice their prey along this path until the climax, where their true purpose is clear.
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| How many gooey globules can you count? |
Having seen these plants in action, I can confidently vouch that the rhetoric of carnivorous plants is very sound. Molded by millions of years of evolution to appeal to a very specific, and easily tricked, audience, they rarely lose an argument.
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| Not my picture...yet. |
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