A 'Green' Mousetrap

By - 247 words

Language

Reading Level

Listen to Article

Looking for a way to get rid of those pesky mice? Than you may need to get the Nepenthes Attenboroughii, a new species of carnivorous pitcher plant, whose pitchers are so large, they can swallow an entire mouse!

The plant attracts rodents and insects with its brightly colored pitchers and sweet nectar. Once caught, the prey cannot escape thanks to the pitcher's waxy and slippery walls. The acids and enzymes inside the trap, then break down the prey and absorb the nutrients, spewing out only the bones.

The Nepenthes Attenboroughii was first discovered by two missionaries trying to climb the peak of Mount Victoria, in the remote region of Palawan in the Philippines.

Their description of a large pitcher plant, sparked the interest of three botanists, Stewart McPherson, Alastair Robinson and Volker Heinrich, who decided to investigate the claims themselves.

The trio made their first trip to the area in 2007, and have returned several times since, discovering numerous rarely or never been seen before species of plants.

Among them are, Nepenthes deaniana, another pitcher not seen in the wild in over a century, as well as, a number of other brand new plant species, including a yet to be identified blue fungi plant. Samples of each new species have been placed in the herbarium of the Palawan State University.

Stewart McPherson and his team are now in the process of making a documentary, as well as, writing a book outlining the details of their new discoveries.

Sources:BBC.co.uk,dailymail.co.uk

Cite Article
Geography
Learn Keywords in this Article
38 Comments
  • thatniggaover 14 years
    ccccccccccccoooooooooooooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllllllll
    • Bobbyalmost 16 years
      Victorybell or w.e that pokemon is called!!! hahaha thats awesome
      • shhtahalmost 16 years
        you kids dont know anything
        • makennaalmost 16 years
          thats kind of cool and kind of sad!??
          • t-rodalmost 16 years
            ahhhh! i feel bad for the mouse!
            • blahalmost 16 years
              ossom for catching rats
              • blahalmost 16 years
                ossom mouse trap
                • Galmost 16 years
                  im typing like a cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid
                  • suppppppalmost 16 years
                    supppppppppppppppppppppp
                    • Lilymintsalmost 16 years
                      I sort of think that's being mean, even though it's a way of life.