The History of Horticulture: Carnivorous Plants

A carnivorous plant captures prey in a trap. To be considered carnivorous, the plant must have a method to digest and absorb the nutrients through enzymes, bacteria or another organism, according to Sarracenia.com.

Evolution

• Over time, carnivorous plants have developed a unique strategy to enhance their diets in low-nutrient environments through pitfall, sticky, lobster pot, suction or snap traps, according to the website Botany.org. These plants can survive without trapping prey, but will grow faster with the extra nutrients provided by the corpse of an insect or small vertebrate, according to the International Carnivorous Plant Society.

Charles Darwin

• In July 1875, famed evolutionist Charles Darwin published the book "Insectivorous Plants," one of the earliest studies on the subject, according to the website Darwin Online. Royal College of Chemistry Professor Edward Frankland and Darwin's sons assisted with the research and artwork.

Modern Studies

• Scientific studies in 1997 and 2009 concluded that carnivorous plants in the wild are dependent on catching prey to effectively reproduce, according to the International Carnivorous Plant Society. Plants in captivity, however, can thrive with little or no prey.