Question
I see some places sell carnivorous bromelaids.  Are they truly carnivorous or are they misrepresented like cobra lillies are?

Answer
Hi John,

Brocchinia reducta, Brocchinia hechtiodes and Catopsis bertroniana are generally recognized and carnivorous.  This is based on the plants having specialized adaptations for capturing and retaining insects.  We have both of these genus of bromeliads in our nursery, and I can say they do capture insects.  Neither plant utilizes enzymes to digest the bugs, but it has been determined they absorb nutrients from insects broken down by bacteria.  It's similar to what happens with Sarracenia purpurea that produces some enzyme, but most of the work is done by bacteria and symbiotic organisms.

I'm curious where you read that Cobra lilies, and I'm assuming you mean Darlingtonia californica the Cobra plant, as misrepresented as carnivorous.  Much more so than than the bromeliads mentioned, Darlingtonia has very specialized leaves for capturing insects.  They just don't produce enzymes relying on bacteria and symbiotes for digestion.

Having said this, I know there are some other plants called "Cobra Lily" that are common garden plants.  Some I know of would be some Arisemas and Dracunculus.  These plants have odd tubular flowers, and often foul smelling odors that attract flies as pollinators.  They are in no way carnivorous since they don't trap or utilize nutrients from the flies.  They are just flower pollinators.  We have a podcast discussing this:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEMyKEApyuk&feature=PlayList&p=2E15F82991E51D30&p... Some Sarracenia are called cobra lilies also, a practice by the floral trade that drives me a little nuts sometimes.

Good Growing!

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