Cobra Lily

carnivorous plant · california · predator

Looks like a cobra. The cobra lily's curved top and spotted opening really do look like a cobra's hood ready to strike. That's how it got its cool name!

Traps hungry insects. Insects crawl into the plant's tube-shaped body attracted by sweet nectar. Once inside, slippery walls and downward-pointing hairs make it almost impossible to escape.

Digests its food. The cobra lily fills with liquid that breaks down insects into nutrients the plant can absorb. It's like having a tiny stomach inside a leaf!

Only grows in one place. The cobra lily is found nowhere in the wild except for a small area in northern California, making it super rare and special.

Needs boggy homes. This plant only survives in cool, wet, marshy areas with very specific soil, which is why it cannot grow just anywhere on Earth.