Scientists discover new kind of predator plant that catches its prey underground

By Gwyn Wright via SWNS

A new type of carnivorous plant that catches its prey underground has been discovered by scientists.

The type of pitcher plant was found on the island of Borneo in Indonesia.

Martin Dančák of Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, lead author of the study, said: "We found a pitcher plant which differs markedly from all the other known species.

“In fact, this species places its up-to-11-cm-long pitchers underground, where they are formed in cavities or directly in the soil and trap animals living underground, usually ants, mites and beetles."

The plant is called nepenthes pudica, which means bashful and reflects the fact that its lower pitchers remain hidden from sight.

The plant forms specialized underground shoots with entirely white leaves which do not contain chlorophyll, a pigment that makes most plants green.

The leaves supporting the pitchers are a fraction of their normal size but the pitchers retain their size and often also their reddish color.

Researchers found organisms living inside the pitchers including mosquito grub, nematode worms and a new species of worm.

The newfound species may have been forced to go underground because it grows on fairly dry ridgetops at 1100-1300m.

More humid conditions and more potential prey during dry periods mean underground may give them a more stable environment to live in, according to the researchers.

The new species was discovered when the research team visited a previously unexplored mountain.

They found plants that were definitely Nepenthes but seemingly produced no pitchers.

They found one which had buried its pitchers in the soil but first thought it was an accident.

As they carried on walking up the mountain they found more of the plants “without” pitchers until the species was found under a tree base.

Researcher Dr Ľuboš Majeský recalled: “At first, we thought it was an accidentally buried pitcher and that local environmental conditions had caused the lack of other pitchers.

“Still, as we continued to find other pitcherless plants along the ascent to the summit, we wondered if a species of pitcher plant might have evolved towards loss of carnivory, as seen in some other carnivorous plants.

“But then, when taking photos, I tore a moss cushion from a tree base revealing a bunch of richly maroon-coloured pitchers growing from a short shoot with reduced leaves entirely lacking chlorophyl.”

They then dug underground in the other places where they had found the plants “without” pitchers and found they were all the same as the ones they had found first- growing with underground shoots with pitchers.

The plants are widespread in Borneo. Three other groups of carnivorous plants are known to trap underground prey, but they do not have pitchers and can only trap tiny organisms.

Researcher Wewin Tjiasmanto from Indonesian conservation group Yayasan Konservasi Biota Lahan Basah said: “This discovery is important for nature conservation in Indonesian Borneo, as it emphasises its significance as a world biodiversity hotspot.

“We hope that the discovery of this unique carnivorous plant might help protect Bornean rainforests, especially prevent or at least slow the conversion of pristine forests into oil palm plantations.”

The findings were published in the journal PhytoKeys.