Carnivorous sundews actively capture their prey. But in contrast to the related Venus flytraps, sundews are not responding to touch or other mechanical stimulants. Now Chinese researchers show that a small peptide, glutathione, likely released by the captured fly, signals for the trap to close.
Tag Archives: carnivorous plants
Digesting your prey
Venus flytraps are one of the speediest plants around. But have you ever wondered what happens after a fly or cricket is trapped between those two big trap-leaves? This new study called “Venus flytraps’ metabolome analysis discloses the metabolic fate of prey animal foodstock” shows what happens next.
Maybe carnivorous
Maybe carnivorous While most plants get their nutrients from the soil, are some plants carnivours. They get their nutrients from the catching and digesting flies and other insects. And then there is Triphyophyllum peltatum, a rare tropical African liana, that is sometimes getting its nutrients from the soil, while at other times it gets thoseContinue reading “Maybe carnivorous”