A new species of pitcher plant has been discovered in the Philippines. The giant pitcher (Nepenthes attenboroughii) lives high on Mount Victoria, and was reported by missionaries who were lost in the mountain area in 2000. An expedition to find the giant pitcher was held in 2007 by natural history explorer Stewart McPherson, botanist Alastair Robinson, Andreas Fleischmann, and three guides.
Link -via reddit
(image credit: Stewart McPherson)
Pitchers create tube-like leaf structures into which insects and other small animals tumble and become trapped.
The team has placed type specimens of the new species in the herbarium of the Palawan State University, and have named the plant Nepenthes attenboroughii after broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough.
"The plant is among the largest of all carnivorous plant species and produces spectacular traps as large as other species which catch not only insects, but also rodents as large as rats," says McPherson.
Link -via reddit
(image credit: Stewart McPherson)
Newest 5 Comments
and plances!!1
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
I LOVE BOTANY!!!!!!!
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
I would love to stretch into my fleece footed pajamas and then be fed to a giant pink venus fly trap.You can be sure that any screaming on my part would be from excitement, and pleasure, not fear!There is something overwhelming about being trapped in those pink leaves knowing you cannot get out, no matter how much you struggle. I guess the leaves seal you up completely before the juices start their work. good website!
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
I want to grow some in my garden and selectively cross breed them to become man eating plants. Definitely not the singing kind though.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
Meh. Let me know when they find one big enough to eat lawyers or politicians or bankers.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)