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Carnivorous Plants/Unknown Plant (to me at least)

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Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 6/25/2009


Question
I have a cactus plant that produces 2-6 flowers each summer.Each flower last for 1-2 days. On each flower right before it dies almost always i find a dead insect (mostly flies) plus some white worms. I do not know if the plant is carnivorous. The insects are like they are sitting on the flower and waiting to die. The flower has a lot of thin hairs on it. I want to sent a photo of the flower to help me identify it.

Thanks

Antonis Stylianou

Answer
Hi Antonis,

Currently there are no know species of cacti or euphorbia know to be carnivorous.  What you're observing is probably an exotic pollination method.  No such thing as a carnivorous flower exists on any carnivorous plant.  It's always the leaves that develop insect capturing mechanisms.  Flowers are just for making seeds.

We did a short video addressing this subject recently with another plant often thought to be carnivorous:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEMyKEApyuk

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com

Carnivorous Plants

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Expertise

If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!

Experience

With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again. Get the straight facts from the guys who grow and propagate thousands of these plants every year.

Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.

No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.


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