Venus flytraps and other carnivorous plants

“Touch it once and nothing happens,” says Ed Read, greenhouse manager at Cal State Fullerton. “But if you do it again within a few seconds, it will close.”  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Venus flytrap attracts, entraps and digests insects, but it needs much more than bugs to stay alive. One key element often neglected by novice growers: pure water, preferably distilled, reverse osmosis or even rainwater. Another factor: dry air, from Santa Ana winds or even an air conditioning vent. It can damage the plants quickly.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Cal State Fullerton’s carnivorous plant collection includes all sorts of exotic specimens, including Darlingtonia californica, a California pitcher plant.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

An insect is caught on Drosera filiformis, a threadleaf sundew.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The sticky hairs of the threadleaf sundew — beauty with a little bite.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Looks pretty, but...: A butterwort hybrid is among the carnivorous plants in the Cal State Fullerton collection.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Pinguicula agnata, commonly known as a butterwort, catches its prey with sticky leaves.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Sarracenia purpurea, the purple pitcher plant, has tiny hairs pointed down — leading insects to a pool below, where they are digested.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Cephalotus follicularis, a pitcher plant native to Australia, in the Cal State Fullerton greenhouse.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The tubular stalks of North American pitcher plants, waiting for curious visitors to see what might await down the chute.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

“These plants aren’t boring,” says Read, shown here watering the Cal State Fullerton collection. “They aren’t just greenery, a flower. They actually do something. However I don’t usually invite girls over to my house to feed the plants. It’s a mood killer, right there.”  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)