Darwin’s Carnivorous Plant Prediction Proven Right — SkimNews
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- Saxifraga candelabrum produces sweet, sticky secretions on its leaves, petals, and stems that trap midges and digest them with enzymes, absorbing nitrogen to survive in nutrient-poor soils in the Hengduan mountains.
- Charles Darwin predicted in 1875 that Saxifraga candelabrum could be carnivorous, a hypothesis now supported by evidence of insect trapping and digestive enzyme activity.
- The plant absorbs nitrogen from digested insect remains, a crucial adaptation for thriving in the low-nutrient environments of the Hengduan mountains in southwest China.
- Genetic analysis reveals that Saxifraga candelabrum has genes related to those found in known carnivorous plants, strengthening the case for its classification as a carnivore.
- Wild potato species Solanum berthaultii and Solanum polyadenium have sticky leaves that trap aphids and other pests, suggesting a dual function of pest control and nutrient absorption.
- Other sticky-haired plants may use similar insect-trapping and feeding strategies, according to a study in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, opening new avenues for research.
Why it matters: This confirmation of Darwin’s hypothesis reshapes how scientists classify borderline carnivorous plants, and the discovery in wild potatoes suggests a practical path to developing crops that both resist pests and self-fertilize—potentially reducing pesticide and fertilizer use in agriculture.
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