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Plant Discovered Eating Insects, Darwin Was Right!
16 Sep
Summary
- Saxifraga candelabrum plant digests insects trapped on sticky hairs.
- Plant absorbs nitrogen from digested insects for survival.
- Study suggests other sticky-haired plants may also be carnivorous.
In a remarkable validation of evolutionary biology, scientists have confirmed that Saxifraga candelabrum, a small alpine plant, is carnivorous. Charles Darwin had predicted this possibility back in 1875. The plant's leaves, petals, and stems are covered in fine, sticky hairs that effectively lure and trap midges.
These trapped insects are then digested by an enzyme secreted by the plant. The resulting nutrients, particularly nitrogen, are absorbed by the plant. This carnivorous behavior is crucial for its survival in the nutrient-deficient soils found in China's Hengduan mountains. Genetic analysis also revealed genes similar to those found in known carnivorous plants.
This discovery opens avenues for further research into other plant species. It suggests that plants like wild potatoes, Solanum berthaultii and Solanum polyadenium, which also possess sticky hairs to trap pests such as aphids, might utilize similar digestive processes. The findings were published in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.
