Butterwort

/ˈbʌtərwɜːrt/ noun

Definition

A carnivorous plant with sticky greasy leaves that trap insects; genus Pinguicula.

Etymology

From butter + wort (from Old English wyrt, meaning plant). Named for the slippery, buttery feel of the plant's sticky, greasy leaves.

Kelly Says

Butterwort is genuinely carnivorous—its greasy coating isn't for insects to slide on but to suffocate them, and it evolved this murderous strategy in nutrient-poor soils where meat became gourmet.

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