Plant that eats rats

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Nepenthes attenboroughii, the rat-eating plant

It has been recently discovered and it's named Nepenthes attenboroughii, after nature expert Sir David Attenborough. The Mousetrap: The carnivorous plant that eats rodents for lunch:
Scientists have discovered a flesh-eating plant so large that it can swallow and devour rats whole. They are lured into its slipper-like mouth to drown or die of exhaustion before being slowly dissolved by digestive enzymes.

Natural history explorer Stewart McPherson, who runs Redfern Natural History Productions, discovered the plant during an expedition to Mount Victoria in the Philippines, with fellow botanists Alastair Robinson and Volker Heinrich.

The plants produce large 'pitchers' which are big, hollow, water-filled leaf structure. The plant then secrete nectar to attract insects and some rodents. The prey falls in and cannot escape back up the slippery, waxy interior of the trap.
via
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2 comentarii:

Manza said...

POKEMON!

Anonymous said...

Victorybell

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