THIS IS NOT A CULTIVATION BOOK! THIS IS A FIELD GUIDE TO HOW
CARNIVOROUS PLANTS ACTUALLY FUNCTION.
Carnivorous plants have a way of waking up the child in all of us. I wrote Plant Carnivory to capture that
moment of surprise when you realize the plant in front of you is not simply alive, but active, responsive, and
hunting.
Written for nature lovers, science enthusiasts, and curious general readers, Plant Carnivory explores the how
and why behind these extraordinary plants. Through accessible explanations of current research, a
conversational tone, and detailed photographs (many from my own collection), the book leads readers
through Venus flytraps, sundews, pitcher plants, and their lesser-known relatives, showing how they move,
trap prey, digest nutrients, and survive in some of the harshest environments on Earth.
What sets this book apart is its focus. While most books on carnivorous plants emphasize cultivation, Plant
Carnivory concentrates on carnivory itself: the physiology, evolution, and ecology behind these species. It
also includes a chapter on the medical potential of carnivorous plants, a subject not addressed elsewhere in
the literature. Together with clear, grounded explanations of plant physiology throughout, this gives the
manuscript a distinctive and compelling place among books on carnivorous plants.
I have practiced primary and urgent care medicine for more than twenty-five years as a Physician Assistant in
Virginia. I hold a degree in Biology from Hampden-Sydney College and have grown carnivorous plants for
decades, beginning with the fascination they sparked in me as a child. I am a member of the International
Carnivorous Plant Society, which keeps me connected to current research and the wider carnivorous plant
community. Twenty-five years of clinical medicine have trained me to translate complex biology into plain
language, and I bring that same approach to this book. Plant Carnivory grows out of long experience with
these plants in cultivation, years of reading the scientific literature surrounding them, and a lasting
fascination with the ways they solve the problem of survival.
