Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 12:24:37 EDT From: Davidogray@aol.com To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2746$foo@default> Subject: Carnivorous / Non-carnivorous questions
Paul Temple wrote :
<< After all, it was Peter Taylor (anyone going to dispute his pedigree?) who
argued that most Utricularia derive most of the trapped nutient from alga and
microscopic plants or diatoms, not animals. >>
Regarding plants that are perhaps not carnivorous, but are considered to be,
at the last ICPS conference Chris Frasier presented evidence that Nepenthes
ampullaria is not a functioning carnivore. It has very low to undetectable
levels of enzyme indicators and is not able to reduce the pH of its pitchers
low enough to accomplish absorbsion; it may function as a detritivore ( I'm
not sure if these findings are published -- Chris? ).
Peter D'Amato and company have provided good augments that N. lowii functions
as a "toilet bowl" for birds and only catches insects and other animals as
the exception.
Perhaps other people have more examples of not-so-carnivorous plants..
Cheers,
David
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