Feeding or trapped

FungiJohn · #1 (**permalink**) 17-05-2010, 07:43 PM

Hello all

First let me apologise for not knowing the plant OR the insect

I noticed that all these plants had flies in them

So, what is the plant, what are the insects and are they feeding or are they food for something else

Plant image

The trap?

Any comments much appreciated

John

Jim Ford · #2 (**permalink**) 17-05-2010, 07:55 PM

The plant is a teasel.

It's thought that the plant may be on the road to becoming carnivorous.

The leaves form a cup around the stem in which rainwater collects. Insects fall into the water and drown. The plant might absorb nutrients from the decomposing remains, but in any case when the plant dies, the ground below becomes locally enriched for next year's seedlings.

I've been soaked from the knees down when walking through a grove of teasels!

Jim

FungiJohn · #3 (**permalink**) 17-05-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

The plant is a teasel.

It's thought that the plant may be on the road to becoming carnivorous.

The leaves form a cup around the stem in which rainwater collects. Insects fall into the water and drown. The plant might absorb nutrients from the decomposing remains, but in any case when the plant dies, the ground below becomes locally enriched for next year's seedlings.

I've been soaked from the knees down when walking through a grove of teasels!

Jim

Many thanks Jim.

I can't believe it was teasel. I've spent the last couple of weeks looking at old teasel stems for fungi