1977/03/01 by Richard M. Adams, George W. Smith · 2 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Engineering · #Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies #Slime Mold and Myxomycetes Research #Plant Diversity and Evolution
paper · doi:10.2307/2441969
openalex publication_date 1977/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/11
Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe features of representative species of the five carnivorous pitcher plant genera which allow them to lure, capture, and digest insects. Nepenthes rafflesiana, Sarracenia purpurea, Darlingtonia californica, Heliamphora heterodoxa, and Cephalotus follicularis were studied. The many morphological similarities observed in the phylogenetically unrelated plants show evidence supporting the concept of their convergent evolution. Several previously undescribed features of some plants were resolved which help elucidate their insect trapping mechanisms.