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The Roots of Carnivorous Plants

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Abstract

Carnivorous plants may benefit from animal-derived nutrients to supplement minerals from the soil. Therefore, the role and importance of their roots is a matter of debate. Aquatic carnivorous species lack roots completely, and many hygrophytic and epiphytic carnivorous species only have a weakly devel-oped root system. In xerophytes, however, large, extended and/or deep-reaching roots and sub-soil shoots develop. Roots develop also in carnivorous plants in other habitats that are hostile, due to flood-ing, salinity or heavy metal occurance. Information about the structure and functioning of roots of car- nivorous plants is limited, but this knowledge is essential for a sound understanding of the plants’ physiology and ecology. Here we compile and summarise available information on: (1) The morphology of the roots. (2) The root functions that are taken over by stems and leaves in species without roots or with poorly developed root systems; anchoring and storage occur by specialized chlorophyll-less stems; water and nutrients are taken up by the trap leaves. (3) The contribution of the roots to the nutrient supply of the plants; this varies considerably amongst the few investigated species. We compare nutrient uptake by the roots with the acquisition of nutri-ents via the traps. (4) The ability of the roots of some carnivorous species to tolerate stressful conditions in their habitats; e.g., lack of oxygen, saline conditions, heavy metals in the soil, heat during bushfires, drought, and flooding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Vienna, 1090, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna, Austria

    Wolfram Adlassnig, Marianne Peroutka & Irene K. Lichtscheidl

  2. School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Althanstrasse 14, 6009, Crawley, WA, Australia

    Hans Lambers

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  1. Wolfram Adlassnig
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  2. Marianne Peroutka
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  4. Irene K. Lichtscheidl
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Correspondence to Irene K. Lichtscheidl.

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Adlassnig, W., Peroutka, M., Lambers, H. et al. The Roots of Carnivorous Plants. Plant Soil 274, 127–140 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-004-2754-2

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