Useful Carnivorous Plants

Nephenthes - Edible Rice Cooker

• Nephenthes is a carnivorous plant native to Malaysia, Thailand, India and Australia. The cups of this gigantic carnivore have captured small animals the size of rats. In Thailand, people prepare a sticky rice recipe called Kiew Ngu. They use the pitchers of the Nephenthes plant to hold the rice gathered from the rice fields. They take the pitchers off the stems, soak them in warm water and let them dry. Then they arrange the pitchers in a large pan, add coconut milk to the rice to make it sticky and fill the pitchers with rice. They steam the rice it and eat the whole thing, including the Nephenthes pitcher.

Butterwort - Yogurt and Cheese Maker

• Butterwort is a carnivorous plant that grows in every continent except Australia and Antarctica. They have shiny leaves that attract insects. When an insect lands on leaf, they become stuck. The butterwort secretes juices that dissolve the insect and the leaves absorb the bug slime left behind. This is a reason why butterwort is nicknamed, "the greasy one." Butterwort plays a role in some of the foods that humans eat. In Scandinavian countries, butterwort is used to curdle milk for making yogurt and cheese. The butterwort's enzymes help trigger the curdling process.

Strange But True Uses

• A team of scientists, led by Ulmar Grafe of the University of Brunei Darussalam, discovered bats and pitcher plants engaging in mutually beneficial relationships. On the island of Borneo, they found bats using the pitcher of the plant for a toilet. What's equally fascinating is that the plants used the bat excrement for food. The scientists conducted chemical analysis of the plants and found that more than 33 percent of the nutrients the plants received came from the bat feces and urine. They also discovered that the carnivorous plants shared their pitchers as lodging accommodations for mother bats roosting with their offspring.

Teachable Moments Using Carnivorous Plants

• The fascinating qualities and characteristics of carnivorous plants make them exceptional subjects for use in teaching children as well as adults about plant life, wildlife and nature. Because they are visibly alive and active, they provide opportunities for teachable moments. They educate people about the importance of protecting wetlands as a habitat for plants and wildlife. Children in particular further their interest and appreciation of the wetlands once they learn that these environments are home to their favorites, like the Venus flytrap.