Re: Shepard's purse

Patrick Cox (PCOX@cox.nsac.ns.ca)
13 May 94 14:07:54 AST

=>>There is also one more. It isn't really a carnivorous plant as such.
It is =>>_Capsella_bursa-pastoris_ (L.) _medic_ or Shepard's purse.
The plant itself =>>is not carnivorous, but the seed is. It exudes a
sticky substance and traps => =>You know, with time I've decided I don't
buy the idea that this plant is =>carnivorous. My reason is that, sure
this thing could catch bugs if the =>seeds were in water and some free
swimming critters came by, but this =>plant is not found in aquatic or
riparian conditions! It is a plant found =>in dry soil!

Why does it have to be in a water environment? The seed exudes the sticky
material which has some sort of attractant to insects. Operates like a
flypaper. If the seed is on bone dry soil then being wet and sticky is an
attractant in itself.

TTYL,

Patrick

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