Chapter 1
A global family of copycats
Chapter 2
The mechanics of a slip and slide
Chapter 3
The ultimate animal roommates
Chapter 4
Humans and the meat-eating plants
Ch 1 · A global family of copycats
alicecooks Australian Pitcher Plant
Fake sky windows! Fake sky windows! You fly for the light but you fall right down!
alicecooks Australian, Asian, and American pitcher plants independently reused ancient fungus-fighting genes to evolve identical cup-shaped leaves and digestive enzymes.
alicecooks Pitcher plants thrive in wet bogs stretching from the Gulf Coast to Canada
Fun Fact
Recycled genes: Unrelated pitcher plants around the world independently recycled the exact same ancient fungal-defense genes to create their deadly digestive enzymes.
Glossary
convergent evolution (noun)
The process whereby unrelated organisms independently evolve similar traits to adapt to similar environments. It explains why Asian, American, and Australian pitcher plants developed identical traps despite having different ancestors.
The process whereby unrelated organisms independently evolve similar traits to adapt to similar environments. It explains why Asian, American, and Australian pitcher plants developed identical traps despite having different ancestors.
Quiz
What did pitcher plants originally use the genes for that they recycled to make digestive enzymes?
Quiz
Which evolutionary phenomenon describes how unrelated pitcher plants around the world evolved nearly identical traps?
Quiz
What is the scientific genus name for the pitcher plants native to North America?
Quiz
How do Sarracenia pitcher plants mechanically prevent trapped insects from climbing back out of their leaves?
Quiz
Which island in Southeast Asia is famous for hosting giant Nepenthes pitcher plants like Nepenthes rajah?
Quiz
What is the maximum volume of liquid that a giant Nepenthes rajah pitcher can hold?
Quiz
What is the scientific name of the unique pitcher plant native only to Western Australia?
Quiz
What are the clear, translucent spots on the lid of the Australian pitcher plant called?