Plants That Kill

February 9, 2006 5:37 AM

Beware, O unsuspecting traveler; for the path you take shall surely lead to your doom. The Galleria Carnivora: A celebration of plants that kill. Also, learn how to cultivate your own Audreys with the help of the International Carnivorous Plant Society (and check out their Members Gallery as well).
posted by Gator (14 comments total)

The Galleria was mentioned all too fleetingly a few years ago (also here); it has expanded considerably.
posted by Gator at 5:37 AM on February 9, 2006

I'm sure one of these fuckers tried to kill me in Fallout 2.

This is also why I live in a temperate and decidedly urban environment. Carnivore = meat eating. And I am decidedly made out of meat. I'm not gonna risk it.

On another note, I really like the website design/concept. Is that sad?

This page made me laugh.

Thanks gator.
posted by slimepuppy at 6:21 AM on February 9, 2006

I tried to raise a Venus Flytrap once when I was a kid. My grandmother overwatered it and it drowned.

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posted by Faint of Butt at 6:33 AM on February 9, 2006

Wait, Steve Martin is a carnivorous plant?
posted by NationalKato at 7:33 AM on February 9, 2006

Awesome. Thanks, Gator.
I've always wanted to keep carnivorous plants but have been daunted by the maintenance involved--hard to keep the humidity and light right, I reckon. They are fascinating and beautiful, though.
posted by apis mellifera at 7:34 AM on February 9, 2006

I've always wondered why bugs don't evolve to avoid carnivorous plants. But then, maybe the plants evolve to smell a bit different/look a bit different/etc.

Having said that, great link. I've always been fascinated by plants of this nature.
posted by antifuse at 8:21 AM on February 9, 2006

Great post - thanks. You can never have enough cobra lilies. If you're ever on the Oregon Coast, this park is worth a 15 minute stop.

(As an aside, I've been in the Galleria a few times when it was the Museo de Arqueología e Historía in Merida, Mexico. No killer plants then but there were a few mummies and numerous zombi-fied tour groups staggering about.)
posted by Staggering Jack at 9:31 AM on February 9, 2006

But what is this?
posted by iamck at 12:35 PM on February 9, 2006

Awesome find. And I like the history of the name of the Venus Flytrap.
posted by blahblahblah at 12:46 PM on February 9, 2006

But what is this?

Sarracenia flava, apparently. The spider looks like a Green Lynx, along with some kinda wasp.

And now, a moment of silence for Faint of Butt's tragic loss:

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Thanks for that link, Staggering Jack; I wondered about the history of the Galleria's fancy new building. :)
posted by Gator at 12:54 PM on February 9, 2006

Very nice post, Gator.

I've always wondered why bugs don't evolve to avoid carnivorous plants.

Just a guess, but perhaps there aren't enough carnivorous plants around to exert much of a selective pressure on insects. If you lay 500 eggs, what do you care if you lose 10 or 20 of your offspring to carnivorous plants?
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 1:11 PM on February 9, 2006

More info on that spider pic; apparently the wasp was already dead and being swarmed by those little gnats! Grody.
posted by Gator at 1:18 PM on February 9, 2006

Cool! (I was hoping that the plant somehow formed a spider like appendage that it used to hunt down wasps, but that's still pretty neat).
posted by iamck at 2:49 PM on February 9, 2006

A most excellent post, fascinating! And great photos. Thanks, Gator.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:54 PM on February 9, 2006