Here’s an interesting twist on carnivory in plants. Nepenthes ampullaria, of southeast Asian rain forests, collects leaves that drop from the trees above, then waits for the insects and other organisms in the fallen leaves to go to work breaking down the tissues of the collected leaves and releasing nitrogen—a vital nutrient. “Instead of using valuable resources on actively digesting its own prey, N. ampullaria is getting other organisms to do the work for it. Not too shabby.” (MNPS)
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 23:52:50 +0000