LEAVES In Ambush: Shacks PREDATOR

Discovered carnivorous plant eating soil -dwelling worms. And in so doing, it does not help the roots and leaves....

Rare plants are able to survive in the dry sands of the central highlands of Brazil. According to ecologist Raphael Olivier (Rafael Oliveira), Sands Brazilian highlands are very sensitive to environmental changes, so today is a real ... One of their values ​​and is. Philcoxia. , Whose leaves are of a width not exceeding 1 mm in the land forever covered. Despite this, they are quite capable of conducting photosynthesis: the problem of Concerned Scientists, was that where they get the necessary nutrients. The root system of plants is underdeveloped, it is the only straight-line stub is unable to collect and convey the above sufficient amount of water.

In previous studies it was shown that the leaves. Philcoxia. contain structures resembling sticky formation on the leaves of many carnivorous plants. A more detailed study has found tiny nematode worms, ... These facts are immediately prompted to think about the predatory nature of. Philcoxia. And to test this, scientists have recreated in the laboratory of a small chain of nutritional.

The laboratory bacterial culture was obtained, containing a heavy isotope of nitrogen, which is the fate of the authors and tracked at the following stages. Bacteria have become food for worms, which have included nitrogen-15 in the proper tissue. The authors then placed near the plant nematode. Philcoxia. As expected, the worms were caught ... Within 48 hours up to 15 % of the total leaf nitrogen was introduced to these heavy isotope. This suggests that the worms are not merely food for. Philcoxia. But the central ( if not the only ) part of their ...

The authors further found that the leaves. Philcoxia. there is no symbiotic bacteria or fungi that could help in the digestion of animal food. The plant - a full and completely independent predator attacking from ambush. And maybe, worms - not only its victims: the scientists see nothing improbable in the fact that. Philcoxia. could digest the creation of other small.