The Nepenthes gracilis pitcher plant, found in southeast Asia, has a unique, semi-slippery wax crystal surface on the underside of the pitcher lid. Researchers have found that ants could cling to this surface under normal conditions, but a rain drop falling on the lid is enough to dislodge the insects, catapulting them into the pitcher where they are digested. This behavior can be seen in videos accompanying the published article:
Hunting at high altitude, where the insects are few, can be difficult. Quite a few pitcher plants prefer to wait for a delivery.
Research into the wettability of a pitcher plant's trap reveals that its the grooves you can see that make it so slippery - and the grooves you can't.
Fluid from pitchers of four Nepenthes species is studied to determine retention capacity and time-to-kill for different species of ants and flies.
Copyright © 2010 - 2024.
annbot
Fi Gennu
Alun Salt
botanyone
Very interesting. I learned something new about one of my plants today. Thanks !
Hey i was just searching for the same and i got it i don’t believe it its so amazing and perfect. May i know what are the factors and from they get power.