Researchers reveal how insectivorous plants use rain energy to light their traps

Researchers reveal how insectivorous plants use rain energy to light their traps

The graph shows the mechanism of Nepenthes gracilis. Credit: Anne-Kristin Lenzo

Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered the deadly workings of carnivorous plants.

In the steamy jungles of Borneo, plants have developed innumerable tricks to help them survive and beat their neighbors. The Slender Pitcher Plant, Nepenthes gracilis, is one of the most ingenious: Its cup-shaped leaves are equipped with a hanging canopy-like cap that turns into a deadly stepping stone for ants when hit by falling raindrops.

His findings, published today in Biology Lettersrevealing for the first time how the shut-off spring works.

The team was surprised to find that instead of bending the lid on its own or in the narrow constriction between the jug’s cup and the lid, the spring was located far behind the wall of the tubular jug. The off-center location on the back of the tube has two effects.






The Slender Pitcher Plant catches prey using raindrops. Credit: Anne-Kristin Lenzo

First, it makes the spring dependent on direction, and as a result, the cap moves easily down, but not up. When raindrops hit, the lid accelerated rapidly downwards, snapping insects sitting at the bottom into the liquid-filled trap below. But on the way up, the increased resistance of the spring slows the lid, so it stops moving faster and the trap is quickly ready to be caught again.

Second, the off-center spring prevents the lid from twisting or swaying, thereby maximizing the transmission of impact energy into the downward motion.

Researchers reveal how insectivorous plants use rain energy to light their traps

The Slender Pitcher Plant known as Nepenthes gracilis. Credit: Dr Ulrike Bauer

Lead author Anne-Kristin Lenz of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences explained, “If you looked at the shape of the jug, you would assume that deformation occurred at the smallest cross-section, which is the point of transition from the lid to the jug tube, but actually it also deforms further down the pitch. the back of the pitcher tube.

“Trap pitcher plants are lightweight, but sturdy. Nepenthes gracilis uses minor changes to the shape of the traps to transmit impact energy with incredible efficiency. We were able to learn from this plant how to optimize the structure geometrically, which can help save material and weight, while still having functional springs. The stepping stone trap mechanism might even provide inspiration for designing new mechanical devices to harvest energy from rain or hail.”

Researchers reveal how insectivorous plants use rain energy to light their traps

The Slender Pitcher Plant known as Nepenthes gracilis. Credit: Dr Ulrike Bauer

This clever use of geometry makes Nepenthes gracilis the only plant known to utilize external energy sources to achieve extremely fast movements—completely free of metabolic costs.

Movement of a new type of plant found in carnivorous pitcher plants

Further information:
The pitcher geometry facilitates an extrinsically powered ‘jump trap’ in the carnivorous plant Nepenthes gracilis pitcher, Biology Letters (2022). royalsocietypublishing.org/doi ….1098/rsbl.2022.0106

Provided by the University of Bristol

Quote: Researchers reveal how insectivorous plants use rain energy to light their traps (2022, 2 August) retrieved 3 August 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-08-reveal-insect-eating-energy-power .html

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