1. Genlisea (corkscrew plant)>>( 21 species) >>> grows in wet terrestrial to semi aquatic environments >> and are spread across Africa, central and South America >> leaves attracts, traps and digests minute organisms like protozoans

2. Utricularia ( bladderworts) >> (220 species)>>> occur in fresh water and wet soil as terrestrial or aquatic species,>>>> found in every continent accept Antarctica

Nepanthus

Hi Patrick

The habitats to look for carnivorous plants are the very nitrogen poor ecosystems. I don't know carnivorous species in Africa and hence Kenia, but I do know one species in my country (Belgium) e.g. Drosophila sp.. It is a tiny plant with small droplets on special organs which secrete the droplets. The droplets are sticky and when a fly sits on it,... it is done for. It will not be able to take off again, and id digested externally by the sticky fluid. All nitrogen is resorbed by the organ and that's the way this plant has adapted to a very nitrogen poor sandy environment.

I would suggest that if you know sites with very nitrogen poor soils, then that's where you have to start looking around for carnivorous plant species. Many people have the perception that carnivourous plants are always very big. Well it's the opposite, the are mostly very small and difficult to find.

Good luck mate,

Frank

Isn't Drosophila a fly species rather than a plant?

Frank wanted to write 'Drosera' not the fly's name.

There are in fact two accession of the Drosera genus in Belgium.

And, yes, you will find that genus also widespread in Africa.

However, Genlisea is by far more interesting for biologists - as Mukund wrote - as it occurs in ephemeral ponds, ditches and seasonal rockpools.

And ist also occors on isolated mountains (island biologist are going crazy for the plant)!

carnivores plant grows where there is scarcity of nutrients to adapt themselves to the prevailing conditions such as Utricularia, nepenthes, pingicula, drosera, venus flytrap , pitcher plant etc..

Apart from Drosera rotundifolia, D. intermedia (and D. anglica?), you can also find Utricularia spp. in Belgium.

The southern part of Africa harbors a lot of Drosera (Sundew), Utricularia (Bladderworth) spp. and also Aldrovanda (Waterwheel plant); maybe Roridula, but I think this genus grows more to the west. Madagascar has two Nepenthes species (apart from Drosera and Utric. spp.).

Guy

Dionaea muscipula

Dionaea muscipula is a North American species (Carolina's)

Look out for venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) nand pitcher plant (Nepenthes distillatoria) of which there are different species

In India we have Drosera indica,D.peltata and D.burmanii.And another genus is Utricularia species.

Carnivorous plants are plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans, typically insects and other arthropods.

Carnivorous plants can eat mice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJCaG4tOaAU‎

CARNIVOROUS PLANT eats frog and mouse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcmKT5uHgL0‎

An insectivorous plant, also called a carnivorous plant, captures prey items, such as insects, spiders, crustaceans, mites, and protozoans, as a nitrogen source. Many insectivorous species live in freshwater bogs, where nitrogen is not present in available form, because the pH of the water is extremely acid.

In Africa you can find some native species of Genlisea and Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae). I don't know if Kenya is within the distribution range...

Reported from Kenya are several Utricularia species, Drosera madagascariensis, and Genlisea hispidula. For more details see:

http://www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq7510d.html

Bejaria / Befaria racemosa, Flycatcher, Tarflower

Pinguicula alpina L., Utricularia vulgaris, Drósera rotundifólia -insect eating plants from Russian flora

The original question referred to carnivorous plants in Africa, particularly in Kenya. Altogether there are some 26 Drosera species in Africa (for the greatest part growing in South Africa). For a worldwide list of Drosera species see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Drosera_species

Please, contact Dr. Helmut Dalitz, Univ. Hohenheim, Germany, he may be able to help.

The International Carnivorous Plant Society has a South African branch-

http://icps.proboards.com/

.

Usually carnivorous are those organisms which feed on the flesh but mostly plants feed on the micro nutrients and body juices.

So question was in the context of those plants which eat the flesh.

Drosera madagascariensis (this one is common)

• Drosera burkeana (rare)

• Drosera indica (rare)

• Utricularia - a large genus with over 20 species

– The common ones are:

– Utricularia andongensis,

– Utricularia appendiculata,

– Utricularia benjaminiana,

– Utricularia inflexa

– Utricularia reflexa

• Aldrovanda vesiculosa

I forgot to include that the species that I listed above are found in Uganda close to your home in Kenya and are therefore likely to be found near you.

Dear Patrick,

In the Northwest of Spain there are two carnivorous species. One of them is the same genus that you can find in Kenya. Maybe it would be of your interest. Drosera rotundifolia.

Best regards.

In Cerrado region in Brazil there is a species of the genus phylcoxia. This plant has leaves on the floor and gets its nutrients by digesting nematodes remaining on leaves

This is the publication

Article Underground leaves of Philcoxia trap and digest nematodes

I had cause to write about carnivorous plants recently and was fascinated to learn about a liverwort that traps ciliates. Whether or not that qualifies as carnivorous depends on your definition (e.g., does it actually digest them with enzymes, or just wait for them to break down). Still, a cool little plant, and very widespread (Scotland, Fiji), could be at higher elevations in Kenya.

Hess, S., J.-P. Frahm, and I. Theisen. 2005. Evidence of zoophagy in a second liverwort species, Pleurozia purpurea. The Bryologist 108: 212–218.

Sebastian Hess is in ResearchGate.

Checkout http://listverse.com/2011/06/09/top-10-fascinating-carnivorous-plants/