A team of researchers has discovered a new carnivorous plant in southwestern China. The plant, Saxifraga candelabrum, is a member of the Saxifragales order and is the first confirmed carnivorous plant in its botanical grouping.

How it Works

The plant grows on nutrient-poor rock faces in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Hengduan Mountains of China. It is covered with sticky reddish glandular hairs that trap small insects. The plant then digests the insects and absorbs the nutrients left behind.

To determine whether the plant was actually feeding on insects, researchers used fruit flies raised on food enriched with a stable form of nitrogen. They tracked the movement of the nitrogen through the plant and found that it was ultimately taken into the plant and found throughout its tissues.

Importance of the Discovery

The discovery of this new carnivorous plant is significant because it provides insight into the unique adaptations that plants have evolved to survive in nutrient-poor environments. It also highlights the importance of continued exploration and research into the natural world.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.