Re: [Sansevierias] First evidence of plants evolving weaponry to compete in the struggle for selection -- ScienceDaily [2 Attachments]

Interesting.... but I think plant Milkweed's "weaponry" fails to compare with the weapons of death wielded by our friends, the insectivorous plants. Witness, for example, the alluring beauty of the Sarracenia genus - the pitcher plants. The pitcher tube holds water at its base and the top lid keeps other rainwater out. The lip at the top secretes liquids that attract insects such as flies; insects that don't slip and fall into the water below crawl down the narrowing tube looking for escape, but a phalanx of downward pointing hairs prevent their return to the top. The insect is doomed to become future plant food. See 2 attached pictures of my pitcher plants, below.

Sundew plants (Drosera sp.) capture their insect prey with attractive sticky "fingers" (leaves) that literally move to hold the insect in place while it is consumed. Everyone knows the Venus Fly Trap's weapon of destruction with its hair triggers.

I always thought that Sansevieria pinguicula and S. suffruticosa leaf tips were weapons! Ouch!

----- Original Message -----From: john gamesby <[email protected]>To: [email protected]: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 12:15:24 -0000 (UTC)Subject: [Sansevierias] First evidence of plants evolving weaponry to compete in the struggle for selection -- ScienceDaily

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140320101314.htm
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