Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
UBC Botanical Garden, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Aug 17;118(33). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2022724118.
Carnivorous plants consume animals for mineral nutrients that enhance growth and reproduction in nutrient-poor environments. Here, we report that (Tofieldiaceae) represents a previously overlooked carnivorous lineage that captures insects on sticky inflorescences. Field experiments, isotopic data, and mixing models demonstrate significant N transfer from prey to , with an estimated 64% of leaf N obtained from prey capture in previous years, comparable to levels inferred for the cooccurring round-leaved sundew, a recognized carnivore. N obtained via carnivory is exported from the inflorescence and developing fruits and may ultimately be transferred to next year's leaves. Glandular hairs on flowering stems secrete phosphatase, as seen in all carnivorous plants that directly digest prey. is unique among carnivorous plants in capturing prey solely with sticky traps adjacent to its flowers, contrary to theory. However, its glandular hairs capture only small insects, unlike the large bees and butterflies that act as pollinators, which may minimize the conflict between carnivory and pollination.
食虫植物通过捕食动物来获取在贫瘠环境中促进生长和繁殖的矿物营养物质。在这里,我们报告称,(茅膏菜科)代表了一个以前被忽视的食虫谱系,它可以在粘性花序上捕捉昆虫。野外实验、同位素数据和混合模型表明,猎物中有大量的氮转移到 ,在过去的几年中,估计有 64%的叶片氮是通过猎物捕获获得的,这与同时存在的圆叶茅膏菜(一种公认的肉食植物)的推断水平相当。通过食虫获得的氮从花序和发育中的果实中输出,并最终可能转移到下一年的叶子中。如所有直接消化猎物的食虫植物一样,开花茎上的腺毛会分泌磷酸酶。在所有食虫植物中,茅膏菜是唯一一种仅用粘在其花旁边的陷阱来捕捉猎物的植物,这与理论相悖。然而,其腺毛只捕获小昆虫,而不像充当传粉媒介的大型蜜蜂和蝴蝶那样,这可能最小化了食虫和传粉之间的冲突。