Article: Colour isn’t key for carnivorous plants

[tommyr]

Hi gang!

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Tom

 

[Tanukimo]

Interesting. I always thought they were more colored in the ultraviolet spectrum than in the visible spectrum, since that is what insects are able to see. It will be interesting when the reason they are colored red or green is explained.

 

[theplantman]

I have thought this for some time: most insects can't see red very well, and I feel like redness in sundews may act to camouflage the danger of the tentacles. It might make it seem like the dewdrops are just floating in thin air as a free offering.

For example, many fruits are red not only as an attractant to birds, but also because insects won't prey upon them.

 

[Not a Number]

That's ok, according the this paper Drosera don't catch insects on purpose - the leaf and tentacle movement don't depend on prey capture.

http://www.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/articles/CPNv38n4p114_120.pdf

 

[Dexenthes]

Without a central nervous system, plants can hardly do anything on "purpose".

I believe their carnivory is a beautiful example of genetic intelligence.

Interesting article, though, thank you for sharing.