Jakarta : Carnivorous plants that eat insects are surprising in themselves, but a recently discovered species has added to the wonder. This plant is a new species of pitcher plant which hunts insects living below ground. Typically, pitcher plants capture and hunt insects with their unique leaves that rise above the ground.
The shape of these tall plants is like a cylindrical pitcher with an open face at the top and a closed bottom at the bottom. Insects like flies are attracted to them and fall inside the cylindrical plant by slipping on the smooth edges. These insects drown in the fluid present at the bottom of the plant. After some time their body dissolves in this fluid and plants digest them.
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Plant pitchers up to 11 cm long
Now researchers have discovered plants that germinate under the ground. The pitchers of these plants were up to 11 cm long, which capture soil-dwelling prey such as ants and mites. This plant is classified as an absolutely unique species of pitcher plant. It has been named Nepenthes pudica. The word Pudica is derived from the Latin language ‘Pudicus’ which means ‘shy’ (Bashful).
‘Underground hunter’ discovered for the first time
Earlier, such a species of pitcher plant had not been discovered which hunts under the ground. According to the researchers, only three other groups of carnivorous plants hunt underground, but they have a completely different hunting method and, unlike Nepenthes pudica, they can only catch small organisms.