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Catapulting Tentacles in a Sticky Carnivorous Plant.
- Source :
-
PLoS ONE . Sep2012, Vol. 7 Issue 9, Special section p1-5. 5p. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
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]
- Subjects :
- *CARNIVOROUS plants
*TRAPPING
*SUNDEWS
*PLANT species
*INSECT-plant relationships
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 82447506
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045735