Re: What is a carnivorous plant?
Steven Klitzing (stevek@informix.com)
Thu, 15 Jun 1995 10:31:14 -0700
What about the world's largest flower, Rafflesia, which grows in the same
jungles as Nepenthes? It's a parasite that grows on a vine. That isn't
exactly carnivorous, but it's not symbiotic either. I would like to see
somebody breed, via genetic engineering, a temperate Nepenthes plant that
you can grow outside in your garden. The only problem is, if you live
in an area with cold winters, the water in the Nepenthes pitchers would
turn to ice and explode the plant. So, this Nepenthes would have to
be capable of producing anti-freeze in its system as well. Perhaps it
ferments bacteria into alcohol and mixes the alcohol with the water
inside it. Or, maybe engineer a CP with its own chemical heating like a
firefly, or grows a fur coat like some succulents and cacti to protect
it from cold.
---Steve