Posted on 08/17/2009 5:55:19 AM PDT by Schnucki
A carnivorous pitcher plant that eats rats and insects has been discovered in the Philippines and named after Sir David Attenborough.
The plant is among the largest of all pitchers and is believed to be the largest meat-eating shrub, dissolving rats with acid-like enzymes.
The team of botanists, led by British experts Stewart McPherson and Alastair Robinson, found the plant on Mount Victoria in the Philippines.
They were inspired to search for the plant after word that it is existed came from two Christian missionaries who described seeing a large carnivorous pitcher in 2000 after they climbed the mountain.
Mr McPherson, of Poole Dorset, said: "The plant produces spectacular traps which catch not only insects, but also rodents. It is remarkable that it remained undiscovered until the 21st century."
The team, which found the plant in 2007 following a two-month expedition, published details of their discovery in the Botanical Journal of Linnean Society earlier this year following a three-year study of all 120 species of pitcher plant.
They decided to name the plant Nepenthes attenboroughii, after the wildlife broadcaster Sir David.
"My team and I named it in honour of Sir David whose work has inspired generations toward a better understanding of the beauty and diversity of the natural world," added Mr McPherson.
Sir David, 83, said: "I was contacted by the team shortly after the discovery and they asked if they could name it after me. I was delighted and told them, 'Thank you very much'.
"I'm absolutely flattered. This is a remarkable species the largest of its kind. I'm told it can catch rats then eat them with its digestive enzymes. It's certainly capable of that."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Would this work on DemocRATS?
They should have named it the Ann Coulter plant.
Catches rats and digests them with enzymes.
Cool!
Will it eat DemocRATS too?
Did he eat rats also?
If I can find some here, I will ship to any FReeper. :)))
Why is it so remarkable? Human vanity (particularly in the area of science) has reached a point where we are flabbergasted when we discover we didn't know everything. Creation is full of surprises, and I have little doubt that 500 years from know, people will look back on our era as we look back on the pre-Colombian flat earthers.
Sounds more like a catcher.
That’s right,two fried chickens and coke!
Other wise the thrashing and gnawing of the rat trying to escape would damage the plant.
sw
What we need is a plant that can wash and dry laundry...
Turn the White House into "The Ruins"?
OOps .. Nepenthis Pelosa
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