Sarracenia chemicals

martin zevenbergen (Martin=Zevenbergen%Algem%PT.WAU@Vines2.WAU.NL)
Thu, 26 Jan 1995 10:02:27 +0100 (CET)

> With that said, I have a question for the chemists in the
>audience. Has anyone read or heard about a paper that has closely analyzed
>the chemical makeup of the water in pitcher plants (i.e. Sarracenia,
>Nepenthes)? I have heard all sorts of wild stories about the effect of this
>water on insects and humans alike.

I know of somebody at our university who does research on the chemical
compounds that Sarracenia plants spread in the air to lure insects. I didn't
contact him yet. I think they want to know the chemical structure of these
compounds, so that they can synthesize them for use in agriculture against
pests.

Martin