Need Pics of Darlingtonia Inside Part

[zhilin]

First, let me cite the mechanism of Darlingtonia Capturing Insects described in Peter's Book: The Savage Garden:

"Most of its insect prey are lured to the plant by its colorful, nectar-baited tongue. Crawling insects follow nectar trails that run up the exterior of the pitcher. The nectar is the heaviest at the base of the tongue. At this point, insects may be lured to enter a hole by the brilliance of the sun shining through the transparent hood. But once inside the hood, escape is impossible. An inner collar surrounding the entrance of the hole is similar to a lobster trap, making an exit almost impossible to find. The insects finally tumble down the tube. Water is secreted by the pitcher that drowns the victims. Bacteria and other microorganisms help break down the soft parts of the prey. This nutritional fluid is then reabsorbed by the plant."

I am interested in seeing the inside part of Darlingonia. But I don't want to split my living Darlingtonia's head.

Is there any picture on the inside part of its head (the hood)? Thank you!

Zhilin

[ICPS-bob]

Look at the bottom 4 photos at
www.sarracenia.com/galleria/g345s.html

[Not a Number]

Take a look in the March 2007 issue (v36n1) of the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter. Barry Rice has a photo of the inside of a Darlingtonia hood from the top down in his article on hybrid trap mechanisms.

I remember cutting open a Darlingtonia pitcher back in the 60s or early 70s. I seem to recall dimly a picture in a book of a dissected Darlingtonia pitcher back then too. I couldn't recall where though. Maybe one of the Time-Life books from that period.

*note: same picture as on the website

There are interior photos on Makoto Honda's website too (scroll down to leaf anatomy):
www.honda-e.com/IPW_5_PhotoIndex/Ph2_index_CobraPlant.htm

[zhilin]

Hi, Bob,

Thank you for quick reply. I am still confused. Where is the inner collar surrounding the entrance of the hole? From the last 4-th and the last 3th picture in that webpage, I didn't see the so-called inner collar. From those two pictures, It seems insects have chances to escape: they can first come to the base of the tongue of Darlingtonia, then go down to another end of the tongue (it's outside of the hood), and finally fly away. Although the transparent windows on the hood may make the insects confused and lost, but there is still a chance to escape, right?

Zhilin

Apr 26, 2010 23:21:03 GMT ICPS-bob said:

Look at the bottom 4 photos at
www.sarracenia.com/galleria/g345s.html

[Not a Number]

Re: inner collar - see the second photo on M. Honda's site:

www.honda-e.com/IPW_6_PhotoGallery/02_Darlingtonia/Ph2_1016.htm

[zhilin]

Not A Number:

Thank you very much. I am sorry I still didn't see the inner collar from the second photo. Where is it? Could you please point out for me? Also, just image: if an ant enters the hood and then it is easy for itself to get out from the hole, because the size of an ant is about 1/3~1/4 of the size of the hole, the inner collar, if exists, cannot prevent it from escaping.


Zhilin

Apr 26, 2010 23:54:45 GMT Not a Number said:

Re: inner collar - see the second photo on M. Honda's site:

www.honda-e.com/IPW_6_PhotoGallery/02_Darlingtonia/Ph2_1016.htm

[Not a Number]

Caption:

The orifice edge rolls up, somewhat concealing the exit from the view......

Timing is everything. If you had posted your question yesterday morning before I trimmed off all of last years pitchers I could have sliced one open for you. However you have to settle for my cheapy sleazy drawing, greatly exaggerated of course.

Attachments:

[zhilin]

Hi, Not A Number,

Thank you for your time to draw for me. The picture explains well. Now I think I know what's the so-called inner collar. But one thing is, I cannot understand how this inner collar prevents insects from exiting. For small insects, the plant may success to capture. But for large insects, I doubt the plant can success, since their size might be big enough to directly climb on the top of the "inner collar". See my drawing shows:




Zhilin

Apr 27, 2010 2:47:56 GMT Not a Number said:

Caption:

The orifice edge rolls up, somewhat concealing the exit from the view......

Timing is everything. If you had posted your question yesterday morning before I trimmed off all of last years pitchers I could have sliced one open for you. However you have to settle for my cheapy sleazy drawing, greatly exaggerated of course.

[ICPS-bob]

The collar is only one part of the strategy. Below and around the collar is a very slippery area that lines the interior of the pitcher and continues downward to a successively smaller tube.
www.honda-e.com/IPW_6_PhotoGallery/02_Darlingtonia/Ph2_1016.htm
It is very difficult for an insect to walk on this slippery area.
Below the slippery interior is an area of downward pointing hairs that further prevent an insect from climbing upward.
www.sarracenia.com/photos/darlingtonia/darlicalif018.jpg
At the pitcher base, is 1 to 2 inches of liquid.

[Not a Number]

It also has to do with the lighting - the bright areas will lead the prey away from opening and towards the pitfall.

You should read Barry Rice's article "Carnivorous Plants with Hybrid Trapping Strategies" in the March 2007 CPN. This describes the Darlingtonia trap design in good detail.

Wilhelm Barthlott, Stefan Porembski, Rudiger Seine, and Inge Theisen "The Curious World of Carnivorous Plants: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Biology and Cultivation" would be another good reference.

If you are an ICPS member you can download a PDF copy of the issue. If not you can purchase a backissue for $12 from the ICPS store:

icps.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=586&club_id=203829&item_id=43

Or try a local public or university library (you probably need to be an enrolled student or alumni member).

[zhilin]

Thank both of you to help me understand the mechanism. I am not ICPS member. Maybe I will consider to join it in the near future. I will borrow the book tomorrow.