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Where can you find them?

Carnivorous plants thrive in low-nutrient, wet, and bright habitats. The California sundews were found in full sun, on two small, boggy islands in a clear lake.
Carnivorous plants thrive in low-nutrient, wet, and bright habitats. The California sundews were found in full sun, on two small, boggy islands in a clear lake. Photo: Lauren Leffer / Gizmodo

You won’t find carnivorous plants in the dark depths of the forest. Instead, look for them in bright open space, with plentiful water.

Carnivorous plants are a prime example of an evolutionary trade-off. Making all those traps and digestive juices takes a lot of energy, so this survival strategy only that works in places where nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous are at a premium.

Their identifying trait evolved as a way to cope with nutrient-poor environments, which is why they supplement with flesh. To make their tricky traps, carnivorous plants sacrificed some of their ability to photosynthesize, explained Ellison. “They’ve been modified in such a way that they just don’t do well with capturing light anymore,” he added. Meaning that they can only thrive in super-sunny habitats.

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