|
|
What kind of plant attracts and traps protozoa?
The only plants known to attract and trap protozoa are species of
Genlisea, tiny flowering plants that live in wet sand in tropical
areas. They do it under the sand, with special modified leaves.
In addition to a rosette of small leaves above the surface, Genlisea
has a long bundle of root-like underground leaves. Each of these
special leaves bears dozens of tiny traps, with special one-way hairs.
The traps emit substances that attract various kinds of protozoa,
which enter the openings and become stuck inside. The plant
digests the trapped protozoa, which provide it with important
nutrients that are not easy to obtain in the sandy environment.
More about carnivorous plants, including Genlisea:
http://daphne.palomar.edu/wayne/carnivor.htm
