Pitcher Plant Information
Posted by in Amazing Plant, Pitcher Plant on July 23, 2011
We all know that animals hunt for prey and feed on them. Even humans consume some animals and plants. But, have you ever heard of plants, that feed on insects. Yes, there are some carnivorous plants too, like, the pitcher plants. These carnivorous plants usually grow on soil, which has very less amounts of nutrients, especially nitrogen. They derive nutrients by trapping and digesting insects and some other arthropods. There are various types of carnivorous plants with different trapping mechanisms and pitcher plant is one among them. In general, carnivorous plants exhibit any of the following five trapping mechanisms. Some of them have pitfall traps, like, in case of pitcher plants, others have sticky mucilage to get the prey stuck on the plant. In case of snap trap plants, leaves act like traps, whereas bladder plants suck in the prey. Another type of carnivorous plant called lobster-pot trap have hairs that guide the prey to the plant’s digestive organ. This article is about pitcher plants, that have pitcher-like adaptations to catch prey. Let us take a look at some amazing pitcher plant information.
Pitcher Plant Facts
Now, we know that there are carnivorous plants, that trap insects and digest them. Unlike animals and humans, plants do not have limbs to catch prey. Then, what is the mechanism behind plants trapping insects? The interesting piece of information on the pitcher plant is that these plants have specialized structures that enable them to trap their prey. We have already discussed the different trapping mechanisms in different carnivorous plants. In case of pitcher plant, the trapping mechanism involves pitcher shaped structures formed at the end of the leaves or made of whole leaves.
How do Pitcher Plants Trap Insects
Most of the pitcher plants have something to lure insects. The lures can be in the form of attractively colored elongated pitchers or nectar. The insects that enter the pitcher find it difficult to get out of the structure, as it has slippery or grooved surfaces. These pitchers contain a liquid called phytotelmata, which drowns the prey and dissolves it gradually. So, the insect that enters the pitcher may directly drown in the liquid or fail to get out of the structure and gradually drowns. This liquid, which is found inside the pitcher may either contain bacteria, that acts on the prey or insect larvae, that feed on the trapped insects. In the latter case, the pitcher plant absorbs the excreta of the larvae, which live harmoniously with the pitcher plant. In some other cases, the liquid contains digesting enzymes, secreted by the plant itself. Once the prey is dissolved the pitcher plant extracts amino acids, peptides, phosphates, ammonium and urea from the solution. Now, you have a basic idea about the course of action of pitcher plant. Read the rest of this entry »
Pitcher Plant Facts
Posted by in Amazing Plant, Pitcher Plant on July 23, 2011
Studying about pitcher plant (scientific name, Nepenthes sp. and Sarracenia sp.) is a fascinating topic for botanists and plant enthusiasts all over the world. Because, with this variety, you will come to know about the carnivorous adaptation of plants. In nature, there are approximately 670 species of plants, belonging to 9 families that exhibited carnivory. Each of these are gifted with characteristic features to trap, kill and derive nutrients from their prospective preys. Let’s take a look at pitcher plant facts to understand more about the survival mechanism of carnivorous plants.
Facts about Pitcher Plant
Pitcher plants are commonly known by the name, insectivorous plants. They are named as the insect trapping feature (pitfall trap) simulates water pitcher. You can identify them from the colorful cupped leaf meant for luring insects (butterflies, grasshopper, cricket) usually accompanied with a circular hood or beak like lid. Search for green pitcher plant facts or purple pitcher plant facts and you will notice that such species have a varied colored pitfall trap and flower, that distinguish each of them from others.
Pitcher Plant Classification
Speaking about pitcher plant taxonomical classification, there are two large families, namely, Sarraceniaceae (genus name Sarracenia), and Nepenthaceae (genus name Nepenthes). The first is basically adapted to tropical regions, while the latter is found in temperate and cold climatic conditions. And the scientific name of the most common pitcher plant is Sarracenia purpurea. Know more on types of plants.
Pitcher Plant Habitat
One of the interesting pitcher plant facts is its habitat adaptation. If you examine their natural distribution, you will find most of them growing in bogs or soils that lack nitrogen (an essential plant nutrient) and other mineral nutrients. Some of them are also adapted in highly acidic soil, where other regular plants cannot thrive. Simply put, pitcher plants make up nitrogen and nutrient deficiency in soil by trapping insects and feeding on them.
Pitcher Plant Feeding
Similar to other carnivorous plants, a pitcher plant is adapted with special features. For example, a colorful pitfall trap attracts its prey, the inside of which is filled with enzymatic fluid for drowning and digesting insects. Also, the sides of the pitfall trap are slippery and lined with deflexed bristles, making it hard for the insects to climb up and escape from the trap. So, once an insect lands on the trap, it is nearly impossible to come out alive.
Pitcher Plant Propagation
Pitcher plants and other carnivorous plants propagate by means of sexual reproduction, wherein the male and female gamete fertilize to form seeds. Based on the species, the flowering time differs. In addition, some of the cultivars are propagated by asexual means such as cuttings and division of plant parts. Commercial production of pitcher plants is done by tissue culture method. Read the rest of this entry »