WHAT ARE GENLISEA

Genlisea are related to Utricularia and Pinguicula and they grow as semi aquatic or terrestrial plants. They are also known as the Corkscrew Plant, referring to the odd traps that spiral into the ground like a corkscrew.

Corkscrew plants are small rosette plants about 1-3 inches in diameter with spade-shaped leaves. The flowers are small and pretty, and somewhat similar to the flowers of Bladderwort.

Picture by Adam Strath aka strath76 - Australia

HOW DO THEY CAPTURE INSECTS

The traps of the Corkscrew plant are underground or underwater and it looks like an upside down “Y” shape root. Midway down, this chamber swells into a stomach-like shape. This is where tiny creatures are digested. It continues further downwards from here and branch out into 2. This is where it spiral downwards like a corkscrew. At the base of this 2-pronged corkscrew there is a slit-like mouth.

It is here that tiny creatures enter. Once inside, the creatures cannot escape because he slit is lined with bristly hairs that force them to continue upwards along the tube into the digestive chamber.

WHERE CAN I FIND GENLISEA

Corkscrew plants can be found growing on wet to waterloged peaty sand areas in South America, Madagascar and tropical Africa. Their habitat are similar with Sundews and Bladderwort.