Variation in colour signals among Sarracenia pitcher plants and the potential role of areoles in the attraction of flying Hymenoptera

Sarracenia insectivorous plants show a diversity of visual features in their pitchers but their perception by insects and their role in attraction, have received little attention. They also vary in prey composition, with some species trapping more flying Hymenoptera, such as bees. To test the hypothesis of a link between visual signal variability and prey segregation ability, and to identify which signal could attract flying Hymenoptera, we characterised, the colour patterns of 32 pitchers belonging to four taxa, modelled their perception by flying Hymenoptera, and examined the prey they trapped. The pitchers of the four taxa differed in colour patterns, with notably two long-leaved taxa displaying clear areoles, which contrasted strongly in colour and brightness with the vegetative background and with other pitcher areas in the eyes of flying Hymenoptera. These taxa trapped high proportion of flying hymenoptera. This suggests that contrasting areoles may act as a visual lure for flying Hymenoptera, making plants particularly visible to these insects. Prey capture also differed according to pitcher stage, morphology, season and visual characteristics. Further studies on prey visitation are needed to better understand the link between prey capture and attraction feature.

Drosera indica as an indoor biological control against mosquitoes

In the wild, carnivorous plants obtain some nutrients by trapping and digesting various invertebrates, and occasionally even small frogs and mammals. Because insects are one of the most common prey items for most carnivorous plants, they are sometimes called insectivorous plants The aim of this study is to identify Drosera indica indeed a carnivorous plant to control indoor mosquitoes in Metro Manila. Experimental Method of research. Controlled pot plant were placed in the Urban garden of UDM and observed to trapped insects. Another pot plant was placed inside the room that verified attracted insects. The Experimental period runs for 7 days from October 5 to 11, 2020. Conclusion: Based on the results and finding, Drosera indica is an insectivorous plant that preys on Aedes aegypti and Anopheles mosquitoes

DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION OF PLANT RESOURECES OF TIRUMALAIAH GUTTA SACRED GROVE, WANAPARTHY, TELANGANA, INDIA

Tirumalaiah Gutta sacred grove is situated near Wanaparthy, Telanagana with dry deciduous and scrub forests and huge rock boulders. The study yields a total of 467 taxa belonging to 283 genera and 81 families. Of the 467 taxa, 332 are dicots, 129 are monocots and 6 are pteridophytes. Of the 81 families,Poaceae is the largest family with 77 taxa, followed by Fabaceae (51), Cyperaceae (25), Asteraceae (24),Rubiaceae (19) and Acanthaceae (18). A total number of 34 endemic taxa at different levels are recorded of which, Alysicarpus mahabubnagarensis is endemic to Mahabubnagar district, Chryopogon velutinus is endemic to Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, Rathnagiri hills of Maharashtra and Wanaparthy district of Telangana; Euphorbia senguptea and Rostellularia vahlii var. rupicola are endemic to Eastern Ghats. From the inventory it has been resulted in a total of 16 taxa which was identified and found as addition to the flora of Telanganastate after a perusal of literature. Ceropegia spiralis, Caralluma stalagmifera, Tripogon purpurascens, Chrysopogon velutinus are some of the significant taxa of the study. Good number of insectivorous plants were also recorded from the study area. The “Sanjeevani” is mythical herb mentioned in the Ramayana as awonderful medicinal plant was present in this area. A total number of 382 taxa can be considered as economically important.

Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous plants have fascinated botanists, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, physiologists, developmental biologists, anatomists, horticulturalists, and the general public for centuries. Charles Darwin was the first scientist to demonstrate experimentally that some plants could actually attract, kill, digest, and absorb nutrients from insect prey; his book Insectivorous Plants (1875) remains a widely cited classic. Subsequent monographs by Lloyd (1942) and Juniper et al. (1989) summarized and synthesized available scientific data on these remarkable plants. Scientific investigations and understanding of carnivorous plants has evolved and changed dramatically in the nearly 30 years since Juniper et al’s Carnivorous Plants was published, and thousands of scientific papers on carnivorous plants have appeared in the academic literature. In putting together this fourth major work on the biology of carnivorous plants, Ellison and Adamec have assembled the world’s leading experts to provide a truly modern synthesis. The contributing authors examine every aspect of systematics, physiology, biochemistry, genomics, ecology, and evolution of what Darwin called ‘the most wonderful plants in the world,’ and describe the serious threats they now face from over-collection, poaching, habitat loss, and climatic change, which directly threaten their habitats and continued persistence in them. This accessible text is suitable for senior undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in plant biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. It will also be of relevance and use to horticulturalists and carnivorous plant enthusiasts.