A greenhouse at Cal State Fullerton is home to thousands of carnivorous plants, including hundreds of Venus flytraps. The exotic plants have become readily available at garden centers and discount stores, but like those goldfish won at a charity bazaar, the Venus flytrap can be difficult to keep alive. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A greenhouse at Cal State Fullerton is home to thousands of hungry, exotic 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 Fullertons carnivorous plant collection includes all sorts of exotic specimens, including Darlingtonia californica, a California pitcher plant. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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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)
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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 arent boring, says Read, shown here watering the Cal State Fullerton collection. They arent just greenery, a flower. They actually do something. However I dont usually invite girls over to my house to feed the plants. Its a mood killer, right there. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)