Carnivorous plants

Mesojedne biljke su autotrofni organizmi iako njihov način života nalikuje heterotrofnim organizmima. Posjeduju klorofil te samim time i mogućnost fotosinteze, a mesojedna priroda prilagodba je na život u područjima gdje je tlo siromašno mineralima (poglavito dušikom). Najčešće ih nalazimo u močvarnim ili stjenovitim područjima. U svijetu je opisano preko 630 vrsta mesojednih biljaka, a uz to još oko 300 vrsta posjeduje neke od značajki mesojednih biljaka. Značajke koje vrsta treba zadovoljiti kako bi bila svrstana među mesojedne biljke su: a) mogućnost privlačenja plijena (mirisom, bojom i/ili nektarom) b) posebe prilagodbe za hvatanje plijena (razne zamke koje mogu biti aktivne ili pasivne) c) posebne prilagodbe za razgradnju plijena (probavni enzimi, simbiotske gljive, bakterije) U Hrvatskoj je opisano 8 vrsta mesojednih biljaka svrstanih u 4 roda: Aldrovanda, Drosera, Pinguicula i Utricularia. Svih 8 vrsta koristi aktivne stupice za hvatanje plijena.Carnivorous plants are autotrophic organisms, although their lifestyle resembles the heterotrophic organisms. They possess chlorophyll and thus photosynthesis, and the carnivorous nature is the adjustment to life in areas where the ground is poor with minerals (especially nitrogen). Most often they are found in marshy or rocky areas. It is described over 630 species of carnivorous plants all over the world, plus another 300 species which have some characteristics of carnivorous plants. Characteristics that plant need to have in order to be ranked among carnivorous plants are: a) the ability to attract prey (aroma, color and/or nectar) b) specific adaptation to capture prey (various traps that can be active or passive) c) specific adaptations for the degradation of prey (digestive enzymes, symbiotic fungi, bacteria) In Croatia, it is described 8 species of carnivorous plants which are grouped into 4 genera: Aldrovanda, Drosera, Pinguicula and Utricularia. All of 8 species use active traps to catch the pray