1. Catapulting Tentacles in a Sticky Carnivorous Plant.
- Author
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Poppinga, Simon, Hartmeyer, Siegfried Richard Heinrich, Seidel, Robin, Masselter, Tom, Hartmeyer, Irmgard, Speck, Thomas, and Fine, Paul V. A.
- Subjects
CARNIVOROUS plants ,TRAPPING ,SUNDEWS ,PLANT species ,INSECT-plant relationships - Abstract
Among trapping mechanisms in carnivorous plants, those termed 'active' have especially fascinated scientists since Charles Darwin's early works because trap movements are involved. Fast snap-trapping and suction of prey are two of the most spectacular examples for how these plants actively catch animals, mainly arthropods, for a substantial nutrient supply. We show that Drosera glanduligera, a sundew from southern Australia, features a sophisticated catapult mechanism: Prey animals walking near the edge of the sundew trigger a touch-sensitive snap-tentacle, which swiftly catapults them onto adjacent sticky glue-tentacles; the insects are then slowly drawn within the concave trap leaf by sticky tentacles. This is the first detailed documentation and analysis of such catapult-flypaper traps in action and highlights a unique and surprisingly complex mechanical adaptation to carnivory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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