No one knows plants better than "us"!

Recently, Zootopia has been all over the screen

This editor was totally charmed by the clever, cunning fox Nick

Among animals, besides foxes

there are plenty of smart and cunning species

like this editor's pet rabbit

which always finds a way to escape its cage

But did you know that many plants also possess extraordinary intelligence?

Plants That Commit Suicide

Have you ever seen a plant commit suicide?

Many plants in Australia, such as some plants in the family Proteaceae, the Australian grass tree and others, deliberately accumulate more and more combustible oils inside their bodies, then deliberately absorb more and more sunlight, and with a "boom" they set themselves on fire.

What is its motive for suicide? Investigation of the case found that the result of this self-sacrifice is: it burns all the surrounding vegetation to the ground, clearing an open space and leaving behind rich plant ash as fertilizer, so that the seeds it had previously buried underground can grow strong and healthy!

Plants with a Built-in Terrifying Slide

In Venezuela, a particularly "cunning" carnivorous plant was discovered - the "Heliamphora nutans" (drooping sun pitcher). They use moist cilia to lure insects into their designed "trap".

Research shows that the moist cilia of the drooping sun pitcher can make the sticky pads and small claws on insects' feet lose their grip; its inner surface is like a water slide, causing the sticky pads on ants' feet to lose traction and slide into its bowl.

Even in dry weather, the drooping sun pitcher can fully utilize its "water slide" trap; it can absorb water from its "small reservoir" and transport it to the highly ciliated part.

Sweet Temptation

Nepenthes (pitcher plants) can secrete a substance similar to nectar, luring unwary prey into a "pool of death" filled with enzymes. In the "pool of death", there are many sticky, downward-hanging main leaf veins; once prey falls into the trap, it is almost impossible to escape.

A giant Nepenthes discovered in the Philippines reaches 30 cm in diameter, enough to devour rodents. It then obtains nutrients from the decaying prey carcass. But usually, pitcher plants still mainly feed on insects.

The Disguiser

The fish-tail-shaped appendage on the back of the cobra lily (Darlingtonia californica) secretes large amounts of nectar and gives off a strong scent. Insects such as wasps will be attracted by this scent to the mouth of the pitcher. Insects crawling along the nectaries may be led into the pitcher.

And the light-transmitting patterns inside the pitcher will confuse the insects, making them mistake these patterns for an exit and become trapped inside the pitcher.

Because of the waxy top of the pitcher and the downward-pointing hairs on the middle and lower parts, insects will gradually fall into the digestive fluid at the base of the pitcher. After that, their bodies are digested, and the plant can absorb the nutrients released from the breakdown.

A Predatory Method of Self-Emptying

The bladderwort (Utricularia) sets underwater traps with ingenious methods. It expels water from its small bladders, lowering the internal air pressure.

When a water flea or other small insect swims by and bends the trigger hairs on the bladder, the valve opens, and the low pressure draws water in, with the prey flowing in along with it. Within 0.05 seconds, the door closes again. After that, the cells inside the bladder begin to expel water outward again, forming a new vacuum environment.

Conclusion

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

To see a world in a grain of sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,

And a heaven in a wild flower

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour.

And eternity in an hour

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