Local Killer Plants Not From Outer Space
by Sophia B., 4th grade
3 cool facts about Darlingtonia californica
- Darlingtonia californica is the Latin name for this plant. Its common names are California pitcher plant, cobra lily, and cobra plant.
- The cobra lily can be found on the coast of California and Oregon, and there is a Darlingtonia State Park in Florence, Oregon, where you can go and see them.
- Darlingtonia is a carnivorous plant. That means that it eats bugs.
Image from m.bidorbuy.co.za
Sophia, I’ve driven past Darlingtonia Park so many times and never realized it was named after this plant! Next time I’ll have to take a closer look. Where do you learn all the cool facts you know about plants and other things?
Well, about your question, I get most of my information from some really good carnivorous plant books at the Eugene Public Library. I also get some of it online and on a DVD that I bought.
Sophia, I think that carnivorous plants are so neat, but it’s a little scary to think that some plants might be able to eat you instead or the other way around. I am just glad that they eat mostly insects. Have you ever seen a Darlingtonia californica in the wild?
Yes, I have seen them in the wild. I’ve been to Darlingtonia State Park and there are tons and tons of them. There are also sundews which are also carnivorous plants. But don’t worry, there are no carnivorous plants that eat humans (or at least scientists haven’t discovered them yet, but maybe some day they will evolve to eat larger prey).
I think your title is really funny. We are going to Darlingtonia State Park this May to see the cobra lily. I find carnivorous plants quite interesting and amazing.