Butterwort

Butterwort, insect-eating plant (genus Pinguicula) that grows in damp places in Eurasia and the Americas. The yellow or violet flower grows on a 2 in (5 cm) stalk surrounded by a rosette of light green fleshy leaves that lie flat against the ground. At the slightest pressure, such as the weight of an insect, glands on the upper surfaces of the leaves secrete a sticky fluid and the insect becomes trapped. The fluid also contains a digestive juice that breaks down the insect's body and allows nitrogenous products to be absorbed.

See also: Carnivorous plant.