If you want something unique, carnivorous plants are bound to get attention.

From the common Venus Flytrap to the Cobra plant, these interesting plants serve a few purposes. In areas that have large numbers of bugs, it lowers the number of flies or other insects that annoy you. While the benefit is strictly related to the size and type of carnivorous plants that you own, these plants can provide a small level of relief while providing entertainment to adults and children alike.

There are five different types of carnivorous plants.
The most common type, the same family that the Venus Flytrap contains, is the snap trap family. Snap traps use on a mouth that snaps around its pray, where the plant will eat anything it snares.

Next are pitfall traps. These traps rely on prey tumbling into the plant and being unable to escape. Unique in their triggers for survival, they need to undergo evolution frequently, as water can pool in the pitchers of the plant as well as the bugs that the plant eats. These plants range from colorful to bland, and do not have hinged parts like their snap trap counterparts.

Flypaper traps are among some of the most unique carnivorous plants. These plants ooze out a glue which traps and devours insects for nourishment. These carnivorous plants should be approached with caution in the home, as the secretions can cause damage to the skin.

Bladder traps are a fascinating subset of carnivorous plants. These plants function through the osmosis of water to create a suction within the body of the plant. Once an insect or aquatic species has been trapped within, escape is difficult. Unlike many carnivorous plants, these are more commonly found underwater than above ground. Some species of bladder traps, such as the Bladderwort, lack roots, which make them a creative addition to any collection.

Finally, the lobster pot traps are among some of the most exotic appearing carnivorous plants that you can acquire. These plants survive by giving pests a simple way to gain entry, but little chance of escape. In the case of the corkscrew plant, the insides of the plant have downward pointing barriers and a y-shaped leaf form that stops the escape of its prey. The unusual shapes of lobster pot traps are directly related to their evolution to prevent the escape of pests.

For those needing a plant even more different,
there are a few types of plants that do not meet all of the requirements of carnivorous plants, but have similar characteristics. These plants include the Brocchinia Roridula and members of the Martyniaceae species. These plants do not have one of the three required aspects, which is to attract, kill and digest prey, to be classified as a proper carnivorous plant.

Carnivorous plants should be planted where young children and babies cannot touch them.
While most of them are relatively harmless to humans, digestion of these plants should be avoided, due to the digestive enzymes that the plant uses to break down prey.

Evan