Roridula
Eric Green (saharris@iafrica.com)
Fri, 04 Oct 96 10:28:41 GMT
Hi!,
Some years ago they were thought to be carnivorous, it has been
proved otherwise recently. The fascination in them is the
difficulty to germinate and grow them to maturity which is
extremely difficult. More importantly is that they trap the insects
by the hundreds, being very sticky, they could even be used to trap
insects to feed to Drosera nearby!!!!!!!!, perhaps even more
importantly!!!!, which way are they heading in the evolution chain,
towards or away from carnivory.
Roridula are found near Cape Town, South Africa. R.dentata on
the west-coast, and gorgonias on the east-coast. Both have little
bugs on them which are immune to the stickyness, long legs, and
careful walkers, they have a long probiscis?, mouth parts, which
they use to insert into the tiring struggling insects, and extract
the softer contents within. Each species has it's own little bug
species, Pomeridea roridulae on gorgonias and marlothii on dentata.
The bugs urine definitely has a marked difference in the plants
growth, Gunter Eitz (Germany at the time) introduced the bugs to
his plants, and noticed a surge in growth compared to a friend who
had plants the same age in a town nearby.
The bugs are extremely sensitive to any insecticide, Roridula
removed indoors, from an area where an insecticide was used, and
returned the following day had all the bugs dead within a few
hours, and I live in the windy cape.
ALL THE BEST Eric