Plants your kids can get excited about

Carnivorous plants a source of fascination

- With DIARMUID GAVIN

Carnivorous plants exert a fascination, particularly to children. The idea that a plant can gobble up an insect is gruesome and intriguing. The best known of these is the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula).

If an insect or spider is detected, it opens its serrated jaws, (well, leaves really), and traps the prey inside. The method of digestion is also quite gorey - it's a slow death for the victim who is slowly broken down by degradative enzymes over a period of a week or so. Once fully digested, the leaves open and the husk of the insect is ejected.