Home / Science / Darwin's Guess Confirmed: Carnivorous Alpine Plant Found
Darwin's Guess Confirmed: Carnivorous Alpine Plant Found
4 Aug
Summary
- A rare alpine wildflower in China has been confirmed as carnivorous.
- The plant traps and digests insects using sticky, glandular hairs.
- Nutrients from prey are absorbed, aiding the plant's reproduction.
Researchers have identified Saxifraga candelabrum, a wildflower found in China's rocky mountain crevices, as the first confirmed carnivorous plant within its botanical grouping. This delicate species grows in nutrient-poor environments on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Hengduan Mountains.
The plant possesses sticky, reddish glandular hairs that effectively trap small insects. Experiments have confirmed that the plant digests captured prey and absorbs essential nutrients, a characteristic vital for its survival and reproduction. This discovery validates a hypothesis Charles Darwin made in 1875 about similar European Saxifraga species.
Analysis revealed that the nutrients absorbed from insects are primarily directed to the plant's flowers and seeds, underscoring their importance for reproductive output. The plant also appears to attract prey using scent and has digestive enzymes in its sticky hairs.
Remarkably, Saxifraga candelabrum avoids trapping its essential pollinators, such as flies, which can escape its sticky hairs. Only smaller insects are caught, providing supplemental nutrition without compromising reproduction. The researchers suggest that other carnivorous plants may yet be discovered in the region.
