Bloodthirstybotanicals

$15 and run asmuch as$60.

He’sbeen an aficionado since he was ayoungster,havinggrown up inone ofthe cradles of carnivorous plantdom. That wouldbe … the Carolinas. See?Anothermyth busted.Venus’ flytraps are native to only oneplace in the world, andit’snot an exotictropicallocale. It’sthegrassy wetlands within a 75-mile radius of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Backthen,carnivorous plant hobbyiststended tobe arare, mostly male species — scientists, professors, boys whosentaway for 99-centplants advertised in comic books.

In recent years,the Internet andglobal tourism have helped spread thegospel of pitcher plants, bladderwortsandsundews.Fans of botanicals goon world expeditionstofindnewspecies, and women have joined the clubin big numbers. “Half of our customers thesedays are women,” D’Amatosays.“It’sbeen one of the most dramaticchanges I’ve seen.”

What’sthe appeal?

“It’sreallytheway the plants look, their beauty,”D’Amato says, amid abackdrop of burgundy-rimmedleaves, celadon-colored flutes, dark purple pouches, translucent white flouncesand brightgreen spikes.

Once hookedon carnivores, however, customersare“rather flabbergasted by the volume of insects theycan catch outdoors,” he says.In fact, that’swhy mostof the female shoppers—whooutnumber the men this particular afternoon — are here.

Right outside the nursery,the insectsare active. An orange butterfly alights on a leafy plant. Itwillbe safe; carnivores rarely catch them.Thatpeskyfly buzzing aroundthe parking lot? Depends. Itneeds tohead away now, lestit become Abandoned Hope’sdinner.

Clockwise from top left: Air plants usually growattached to other plants, without soil; Venus’ flytraps are sensitive to touch and require their would-be victims to stimulate two trigger hairs before they clamp shut; Emily Felch, left, and JordanClark, both of Reno, investigate air plants; pitcher plants hold anectarthat intoxicates insects, easing the long slide down toacertain death; sundews use their glands to digest insects. Atright: Sundewshave thin,hairy leaves that curl up likefiddlehead ferns to capture tiny prey.

BYTESACROSSTHEBAY