Did you know that there are plants that live on animal flesh? 

Close your eyes and think of carnivore, organisms that survive on the animal meat. Well, you are most likely imagining a wild animal or perhaps humans. While carnivorous habits are typical of the animal and human world, the plant kingdom is also known to have a carnivorous side. 

Pitcher plants and the Venus Flytrap are among the well-known carnivorous plants. You must have seen them or read about them in your biology textbooks. Today, we are going to introduce you with some of the scary and deadly carnivorous plants from around the world. 

Cobra Lily 
Also called the California Pitcher Plant owing to its popularity in the bogs of California and Oregon, this is a unique plant in both appearance and function. It does not look like an ordinary pitcher plant. Instead, it has a curled appearance that makes it look like the curled head of a cobra ready for combat. The pitcher of this plant fills up with water, which is absorbed by the roots. Insects are often trapped in this water and struggle to get out. Several transparent patches on the plant appear like exits. The insects scurry from one place to another in vain and tire themselves completely, finally drowning in the liquid. 

Sticky Leaf 
The Sticky Leaf or Butterwort plant is pretty-looking, with small, bright flowers intended to attract insects. The flowers can be found in a variety of colours, such as purple, yellow, pink and white. These harmless-looking, orchid-like flowers seem ordinary but have tiny hairs. Look closely, and you will find a mucus-like substance on them. What do you think is the role of this mucus? This sticky mucus helps trap insects on its surface. As insects are drawn to attractive flowers, they are trapped by the plant. Digestive juices are released immediately, and the insects are devoured. The Sticky Leaf is common in South, Central and North America, and Eurasia. It preys on fruit flies, caterpillars, gnats, spiders, flies and slugs.  

Bladderwort 
The Bladderwort is commonly found in marshy areas, damp soil, flooded parts, freshwater streams and lakes in Asia and Europe. It feasts on worms, mosquitoes and larvae, water fleas, insects and tiny tadpoles. As the name suggests, this plant uses a bladder trap to catch its prey. The bladder, also known as trap, is located underwater. It is a hollow structure with a flexible valve or flap that is closed. A vacuum is created when the plant sucks water from the bladder. When an unassuming prey touches the bristles on the openings of the plant, the valve suddenly opens, and water and the prey are sucked into the bladder. Yes, this plant devours food faster than any of us!  

Fly Bush 
This plant has many names, including the Fly Catcher Bush and Gorgon’s Dewstick. It is mainly found in Cape Province in South Africa. The plant uses a flypaper mechanism to capture prey. The Fly Bush is mostly recognised by its floral spikes and purplish-pink petals. It has a sticky and shiny resin released by its tentacles, which attracts insects and traps them. However, the plant does not consume or digest the insect itself. Instead, another insect called the Pameridea roridulae feeds on the trapped insect. Thus, the Fly Bush relies on the droppings of the Pameridea roridulae to absorb nutrients for itself.