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Running Press

Killer Plants

Growing and Caring for Flytraps, Pitcher Plants, and Other Deadly Flora

Killer Plants Open the full-size image

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By Molly Williams

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$11.99

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$15.99 CAD

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  1. ebook $11.99 $15.99 CAD
  2. Hardcover $20.00 $26.00 CAD

This item is a preorder. Your payment method will be charged immediately, and the product is expected to ship on or around September 29, 2020. This date is subject to change due to shipping delays beyond our control.

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Explore the darker side of nature with this accessible guide to choosing, growing, and caring for carnivorous and predatory plants like Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews, and other spooky guys.

Carnivorous plants: they’re weird, they’re gorgeous, and they’re the perfect addition to your urban jungle of pothos, snake plants, and succulents. However, they can also be intimidating to grow and care for. Let Killer Plants be your guide as it walks you through the different types of carnivorous plants and how to keep each variety alive and well.

The book answers the many questions you may have surrounding these freaks of nature, such as:
  • Where the heck do I buy a pitcher plant? Can I grow it from a seed?
  • Do I need to feed my carnivorous plant flies, or can it survive on water and light alone?
  • What carnivorous plants are safe to have around pets and kids?
  • I have a gnat problem — what predatory plant can help?

Excerpt

Part I

WELCOME TO THE BIZARRE WORLD OF KILLER PLANTS

AN INTRODUCTION

Carnivorous plants are among the most fascinating botanical specimens in the world. They’re weird, they’re gorgeous, and they’re total killing machines. They’re also literal freaks of nature that have adapted out of the necessity to survive instead of dissolving into the list of extinct prehistoric ancestors.

It’s easy to be intimidated by the bizarre world of predatory and carnivorous cultivars. Maybe you’ve become enamored with a sticky sundew at your local garden center but were too scared to bring it home. Perhaps you’ve tried your brown thumb on a gnarly-looking pitcher plant and ended up with a botanical massacre. If you’ve seen the musical (and movie) Little Shop of Horrors, you might be thinking that the Venus flytrap you brought home will suddenly latch on and swallow you whole.

Whether you are a carnivorous plant novice or a senior plant parent, there are many tricks of the trade to learn. First off, predatory plants will never try to eat you. Carnivorous plants typically ensnare bugs and (really) small animals such as baby salamanders. No human eating to be found here, folks.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS A CARNIVOROUS PLANT?

You will find predatory plants for sale in cute little boxes with names like “Monkey Cups” and “Cute Carnivorous Creatures”—with brightly colored bubble font and adorable illustrations. Most buyers, though, have zero understanding that these guys have been evolving for centuries, perfectly finessing their deadly lairs.

To be considered “carnivorous”—as in a living thing that eats another living thing—a plant must do the following: attract its prey, catch it, kill it, and then digest it.

The Encyclopædia Britannica tells us that carnivorous plants have evolved six times across several families and orders. There are now more than six hundred known species of carnivorous plants, making them one of the most diverse groups in the plant kingdom. Predatory plants are typically either aquatic (growing in water) or terrestrial (growing in soil) and are found all over the world. In fact, carnivorous plants can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. (Yes, even inside the Arctic Circle!)

But why do these spooky guys catch their meals instead of making their own food like most others? Predatory plants are often found in places with low nutrient levels in the soil—usually low-lying, bog-like environments. Over time, the plants evolved to make up for the lack of nutrients in their environment by looking elsewhere—like to that tasty bug flying by—for food.

Carnivorous plants are predatory, meaning they trap their food. From snap traps (Venus flytraps) to pitfalls (pitcher plants) to flypaper traps (sundews), these plants have no problem feeding themselves. They lure their prey with their flashy, attractive colors and with a sticky, sweet nectar that is secreted within the traps. But what happens next is what makes them extra special. Once their prey is captured, carnivorous plants release a digestive enzyme that immediately begins to break down the captured food.

THE DARKER SIDE OF PLANTS: COMMON PLANTS THAT CAN KILL YOU

Some unassuming, common plants are potentially deadly to both humans and pets. These botanicals may look pretty, but they can pack a nasty punch. When bringing plants into your space, do your research, especially if you have curious children or pets about. Even more so, if you have outdoor space, do yourself a favor and become knowledgeable about what’s growing there. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Oleander

Remember when Michelle Pfeiffer poisoned her boyfriend with oleander in White Oleander? Yeah. It’s for real. This shrub-like tree is native to the Mediterranean but can be found across the globe because it’s very easy to grow, especially in hot, sunny climates. Break open a stem and you’ll find a luxurious milky sap that can kill you if it is ingested and not treated immediately. Oleander poisoning can affect the nervous, gastrointestinal, and cardiac systems of the body. Every part of the plant is poisonous; even a brush against the leaves or blooms can irritate some people’s skin.

You can look, but definitely do not touch.

Lily of the Valley

The perennial Convallaria majalis, commonly known as lily of the valley, can survive the harshest winters and still reappear in the late spring to show off its delicate blooms. There are a few different stories that could claim to be the origin of lily of the valley, and both come from Christianity. One story tells that the name comes from the tears of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she wept for the crucifixion of her son. Another story says that lily of the valley sprang up from the wetness of Eve’s tears when she was banished from the Garden of Eden. More recently, lily of the valley made quite the appearance on AMC’s hit show Breaking Bad for its poisonous attributes.

And yes, even though it is dainty to the eye, it is indeed deadly. All parts of the lily of the valley plant are toxic. It houses at least forty different cardiac glycosides, a chemical compound that increases the rate at which the heart pumps blood. Ingest it, and expect to experience blurry vision, a racing heart (with possible cardiac arrest), and diarrhea. Untreated poisoning can lead to death.

Castor Bean Plant

The castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) is native to Ethiopia but has been naturalized to the point of invasiveness in multiple regions. Both the leaves and seeds contain the potent toxin called ricin. Ricin is most concentrated in the seeds and will cause gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular distress if ingested.

Castor bean is frequently grown as a perennial bedding plant and can be easily attained at local nurseries. It grows tall and is a gorgeous maroon color, but if you decide to put it in your garden, be aware of the dangers.

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea is a common perennial that is grown in many countries across the globe. Commonly known as foxglove, it’s a tall, flowering plant that produces striking bell-like blooms that are very appealing to the eye. Varieties come in white, yellow, pink, and red, among other bright shades. All parts of this plant are extremely poisonous and once ingested can cause massive irregularities in the heart, so keep an eye on kids and pets around it if you do have any.

Hemlock

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is an invasive weed that is found all over North America. This is also the plant that famously killed Socrates. It closely resembles Queen Anne’s lace, wild carrot, and false Queen Anne’s lace (Ammi majus), all of which are commonly used as cut flowers. When you pull it up from the ground, the roots resemble a carrot.

Poison hemlock is closely related to water hemlock (Cicuta maculata), which has been given the title of most toxic plant in North America.

Symptoms begin to appear within three hours of ingesting the plant. It doesn’t matter if what you ingested looked brown and nonliving—the dead plant remains toxic for up to three years.

Nightshade

Atropa belladonna, better known as deadly nightshade or belladonna, has been used across the centuries to carry out various murders and atrocities everywhere from ancient Rome to Shakespeare’s England. It is native to southern Europe as well as Asia but has been naturalized into many parts of the world.

Every part of deadly nightshade is toxic, but the attractive berries pose the biggest threat particularly to children and animals. If you ingest nightshade, you will experience rapid heartbeat and vision problems, as it contains the toxin atropine, which affects ocular function. You will also experience psychoactive symptoms like delirium and hallucinations, plus vomiting and respiratory failure, to boot.

Belladonna is so toxic that simply handling the plant can result in a severe rash.



SNAP, FALL, OR STICK: THE LOWDOWN ON BOTANICAL DEATH TRAPS

Carnivorous plants can be broken down into a few categories based on the type of trapping mechanism they use to catch their lunch. Some traps physically move to capture prey (active traps) while other traps simply sit and wait (passive traps) for an unfortunate bug to become stuck.

SNAP TRAPS

Plants with this type of trap have leaves that are hinged like a book. The trap is lined with little hairs that create an electric response that causes the trap to close. Once a bug or animal is trapped inside, the plant begins digesting its snack.

EXAMPLES: VENUS FLYTRAP, WATERWHEEL PLANT

PITFALL TRAPS

Plants with these types of traps rely on their hollow pitchers to ensnare prey. These lidded pitchers are filled with sweet liquid that not only attracts insects but also helps the plant digest them.

EXAMPLES: NORTH AMERICAN PITCHER PLANT, COBRA LILY, SUN PITCHER, NEPENTHES, CEPHALOTUS

FLYPAPER TRAPS

As their name suggests, flypaper traps work just like the sticky flypaper you can buy at the hardware store. The leaves of plants with flypaper traps are covered with sticky mucilage and nectar that attracts insects and other tiny creatures and keeps them glued to their surface once they come into contact.

EXAMPLES: BUTTERWORT, SUNDEW, DEWY PINE

BLADDER TRAP

Only one type of carnivorous plant is characterized by a bladder trap. Bladderworts are plants that suck in prey using their suction-cupped bladder traps. Their traps have small doors with little bristles sticking out. When food floats by and tickles those bristles, the trap is triggered and sucks in the food like a tiny Hoover. Wild!

THE DARKER SIDE OF PLANTS: PARASITIC PLANTS

When most people think of the word parasite, they think of bugs and creepy, crawly critters that suck blood from their host animals in order to survive. Parasitic behavior isn’t just confined to the animal world; plants can be viciously parasitic, as well!

Mistletoe

This plant has nestled itself into holiday lore, predominately through literature. There are two types of this evergreen plant, the European mistletoe (Viscum album) and the American mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum). Both belong to the Santalaceae family and are parasitic. Mistletoe is even trickier than a typical parasitic plant because it is a hemiparasite, which means it has some ability to photosynthesize and create some of its own food. You can find mistletoe feeding off trees all over the northern hemisphere.

The traditional mistletoe that you think of when it comes to holidays and decorating is European mistletoe, which was referenced in literature centuries before Christianity was even on the map. Now it is harvested around the holiday season and hung for decoration. It is poisonous, so keep it away from children and curious animals.

Corpse Lily

The Rafflesia arnoldii, typically referred to as the corpse lily, is not only a parasite but also produces the world’s largest flower. Blooms have been recorded up to three feet wide and weighing in as heavier than a small child. It’s native to Southeast Asia and is a member of the Tetrastigma genus.

The corpse lily lives most of its life inside its host and is only visible when it begins to bloom. It has no leaves or roots and pulls all nutrients directly from its host. Even gnarlier than its physical nature is the fact that the bloom smells like rotting meat.

The corpse lily has never been successfully cultivated and, therefore, can only be seen in the wild.

Dodder

The name dodder commonly refers to the 145 species of a parasitic vine that are in the morning glory family and found all over the world.

Dodder anchors itself on its hosts and winds tightly around the host’s trunks, stems, and limbs. It has a rootlike system called haustoria that taps into the host and draws out water and other nutrients. Dodder resembles a tangled mess of wire that produces small blooms.

This parasite has been known to choke out entire fields of crops over a short amount of time. It is often accidentally spread and introduced to a new area by the transportation of the host plant without removal of the dodder. The only way you can get rid of it is by removing it by hand.

Common names include love vine (oh so romantic, like the clingy boyfriend or girlfriend you could never get rid of), devil’s hair, and strangle weed.

Yellow Rattle

Rhinanthus minor, commonly called yellow rattle, is another hemiparasite and is commonly found in northern North America, Europe, and western Asia. Its common name refers to the dainty yellow flowers that produce seed pods that rattle when fully developed.

Genre:

On Sale
Sep 29, 2020
Page Count
160 pages
Publisher
Running Press
ISBN-13
9780762499250

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Molly Williams

About the Author

Molly Williams is a born and raised Midwesterner living in New England. Most of the time you can find her working on her thesis for the MFA Creative Writing program at Emerson College, but the rest of the time you'll find her with her nose in a book or getting her hands dirty in the garden. She is constantly trying to find ways to make her two passions, writing and floral design, intertwine.

Illustrator and pattern designer Miriam Bos comes from the Netherlands. (Interesting trivia: Her last name is Dutch for “forest.”) Miriam loves creating art that brings a smile to your face. A big lover of nature, Miriam lives in Apeldoorn, a city that is surrounded by forest (“bos”) and heide ("heath"). 

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