Proboscidea species

[justjack]

According to Wikipedia, (I know, dumb site, dumber...erer name) it states there are 5 species of Proboscidea. Knowing wiki it'll say there are two or twelve tomorrow. At any rate, is anyone here knowledgeable enough to elaborate on the different species or suggest a good resource online? I am particularly interested in the more fiendishly gnarly savage aspect.

[marcel]

for the pure science part of it (as to how many species there really are, etc) I would say:

plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PROBO

I don't think you can find much detail on the "Cp" side of the plants as there has not been done much research so far.

[nichtsistkostenlos]

I am pretty new to the icps, and researching cps. But I haven't been able to find a resource that says the Proboscidea is actually carnivorous. The closest thing I saw, I believe said that the seed pods were basically designed to attach to critters and hang on until they died then use the carcass as fertilizer. If anyone can point me in the direction of more/more reliable information I would appreciate it.

[unstuckintime]

I work at a Botanic Garden, and as a test, the outdoor horticulturist grew Proboscidea louisianica. I discovered them and i quickly noticed that they were covered in fungus gnats that they, the plants, had captured (the horticulturist was unaware of their pseudo-carnivorous status). I dont believe they actually lured the bugs to their death, but rather caught them by chance. Nor do I believe they digest them with acid or enzymatically, I think the point is they just rot after a while and the nutrients are absorbed that way. This is based on observation and I have no quantifiable data to support it.

[peterhewitt]

Studies have proven that Proboscidea does not secrete digestive enzymes. One can really only guess what the MO of this plant is, I'm not aware of any Symbiotic insect relationship as with Roridula, so how digestion and subsequent nutrient uptake could take place, i don't know.
My feeling is, that the plant produces the sticky glue like substance, to deter would be insect attackers such as mites and Aphids. The plants also produce so much Mucilage, that the cost benefit ratio, would not be in favour of the plant, if nutrients were the only goal.
These plants literally salivate! and the Mucilage is nothing like Drosera or any other sticky leaf Carnivore, it is very gluey and very difficult to remove from hands or implements.

[Michael]

In searching the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter contents on the ICPS website turned up a few interesting articles on Ibicella and Proboscidea that people can access.

Rice (2008). Reassessing commensal-enabled carnivory in Proboscidea and Ibicella?. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 37(1):15-19

Rice (1998). Testing the appetites of Ibicella and Drosophyllum. Carnivorous Plant Newsletter, 28(2): 40-43.

Wallace & McGhee (1999) Testing for carnivory in Ibicella lutea. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 28(2):49-50

Interesting discussion!

Mike

[BarryRice]

Hey Michael,

In a nutshell, I think that the sticky Proboscidea and Ibicella are interesting as studies of paracarnivorous plants, but we need some kind of real proof.

I like the plants, though. I stop the car whenever I see one of these plants on the roadside.

B

[Michael]

Yo B!
Yep, I understand what you're saying about the science status...just thought I'd share a valuable resource (you and the CPN database) that everybody should explore thoroughly (well, maybe just the CPN database that is!). :-)

M

Mike