plant plant borderline according definitions traps kills insects animals lacks ability directly digest absorb nutrients prey like plant morphological adaptations sticky traps plants parallel trap structures confirmed plants authors prefer term implies plants evolutionary path true oppose term reason problem arises author book plants united_states canada prefers term rigid definition include possible plants blurred lack strict definition botanical ambiguous academic literature subject examples plants exist counted ranks true plants matter historical preference research plants adaptations reveal plants meet rigid definition plant historical observations historical observations syndrome plant species restricted obvious examples active trapping mechanisms authors noted speculation species obviously earlier publications plants suggested plants developed little research darwin mentioned species passing follow investigation adding small growing list provided list species suspected book plants species potential mentioned introduction later review literature rediscovered italian journal articles early 1900s identified additional sticky species insect prey surprised find articles lacking literature cited sections modern books articles plants suggesting academic research treated book authoritative comprehensive source research syndrome defining debate criteria plant meet considered yielded proposed definitions strict requirements restrictive strict definition requires plant possess morphological adaptations attract prey scent visual cues capture retain prey scales downward facing hairs prevent escape digest dead prey produced plant absorb products specialized structures presence listed strong evidence long evolutionary history definition sun pitcher plants cobra lily included roster plants rely bacteria organisms produce necessary broader definition differs mainly including plants produce digestive rely internal food digest prey species original definition botanical set required plant exhibit adaptation trait specifically attraction capture prey gaining fitness advantage absorption nutrients derived said prey analysis genera currently considered widened original definition include species use interactions strict broad definitions require absorption nutrients plant receive benefit syndrome plant display increase fitness nutrients obtained adaptations increased growth rate increased chance survival higher production seed set degrees prevailing idea plants black white spectrum strict non rose example fully plants active trapping mechanisms like passive traps considered fully plants fall definitions strict non defined thought plants evolved habits typically reside habitats significant nutrient severe nitrogen seen true plants grow function habit need directly related lack nutrient access classic plants represent evolution form necessarily function example possesses structurally resemble function disputed contend function aid seeds visiting note species small crawling insects trapped supports conclusion evolved exclude crawling insects favor flying greater seed dispersal protection crawling insect predators trapping mechanisms visible parallels trapping mechanisms plants plants species resemble traps traps plants species similar true plants reason considered instead produce digestive form trap leaves held tightly plants produce sticky necessarily associated instead described like capable trapping killing insects traps discovered activity function plant species including var var var species tested positive activity unclear produced plant surface species evaluated exhibited activity examined labeled protein nutrient absorption activity species displayed ability digest absorb labeled protein plants considered sticky surface flower leaves appear flower known trap kill small insects discovery centuries ago purpose remained ambiguous november published paper describing active proteins come contact species grown tissue culture proving plant surface source production asserts paper given evidence species properly called order fulfill strict definition needs proven capable absorbing nutrients derived prey adaptation gives plants competitive advantage complex relationship prey plants genus produce sticky leaves tipped look similar larger unlike unable carry digestive species directly benefit insects catch instead form species assassin bugs eat trapped insects plant benefits nutrients bugs likewise sticky modified investigated ability paper published detailed evidence played distinct role defense flower capable captured prey absorbing nutrients subject studies early studies concluded plant offerings methods crude subsequent studies carefully tested presence activity found noted plant great capacity capturing killing prey traps traps plants identical plants way plant mode rigid definition plants requires prey produced plant given criterion trap plants commonly considered instead classified highly contentious generally reflected current plant literature species produce relying instead internal food web break prey nutrients trap form unrelated family leaves formed leaves tightly packed collecting water trapping insects unlike proven produce digestive considered little evidence supporting claims able attract kill prey surface leaves absorb nutrients far activity detected plant relies internal food web soft tissue said member forms central water reservoir adaptations attract insects like produces digestive potential trap species suggested possible major study examined evidence digestive nutrient absorption revealed shepherd purse plant claim contested unique plant capable capturing prey stage life cycle seeds plant fluid actively attracts kills prey evidence activity absorption nutrients criterion explored plant benefits adaptation loss plants considered adaptations appear evolving evolved away direct prey relationship rely sources obtaining nutrients example phenomenon trap tropical pitcher plant retains ability attract capture kill digest insect prey species acquired adaptations appear favor leaf litter potentially referred tropical pitcher plant known catch prey items compared preliminary observations suggest particular species moved away solely primarily nature adapted catching birds feeding study found mature plants derived nitrogen comes genus plants lost appetite species trap digest prey specialized traps instead community algae debris giving rise hypothesis favor interaction place predator prey relationship evolution disciplines ecology evolutionary biology presented evolution plants apply plants plant suggests species way simply example defense related adaptation found examples plants moving away syndrome book considered species plants writes important remember plants plants explain describe reasons excluding plants
Protocarnivorous plant