Catapulting Tentacles in a Sticky Carnivorous Plant

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Abstract

Among trapping mechanisms in carnivorous plants, those termed 'active' have especially fascinated scientists since Charles Darwin's early works because trap movements are involved. Fast snap-trapping and suction of prey are two of the most spectacular examples for how these plants actively catch animals, mainly arthropods, for a substantial nutrient supply. We show that Drosera glanduligera, a sundew from southern Australia, features a sophisticated catapult mechanism: Prey animals walking near the edge of the sundew trigger a touch-sensitive snap-tentacle, which swiftly catapults them onto adjacent sticky glue-tentacles; the insects are then slowly drawn within the concave trap leaf by sticky tentacles. This is the first detailed documentation and analysis of such catapult-flypaper traps in action and highlights a unique and surprisingly complex mechanical adaptation to carnivory. © 2012 Poppinga et al.

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Poppinga, S., Hartmeyer, S. R. H., Seidel, R., Masselter, T., Hartmeyer, I., & Speck, T. (2012). Catapulting Tentacles in a Sticky Carnivorous Plant. PLoS ONE, 7(9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045735

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