Read-Only Forum Archive
PetPitcher Forum  

Go Back   PetPitcher Forum > CARNIVOROUS PLANTS > Nepenthes

Nepenthes Everything about Tropical Pitcher Plants



 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old 15th September 2009, 04:00 AM
Durban Durban is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Wed Jul 2009
Location: Durban, South Africa
Posts: 13
Default N. mirabilis var echinostoma produces red dye?

Hello all, i have returned with a carry-on from my previous thread concerning my ever-strange N. mirabilis var echinostoma. Recently, during very hot weather in my greenhouse (38c, 80% humidity), my plant started producing salty nectar. But now, it is producing a deep red "dye" from it`s newest pitcher only. I noticed this as i was misting my plants today when, what looked like blood, started trickling down the pitcher! On closer inspection i saw that the nectar glands on the outside pitcher wall were producing a thick, almost black-red dye which, when sprayed, diluted and ran down the pitcher. I find this amazing and think that some research should be done on this plant as i don`t know of any Nepenthes that produces such a richly coloured substance. I hesitate to call it nectar as it didn`t have any taste whatsoever, unlike the salty syrupy discharge from the same pitcher`s peristome.

A close-up of the glands before misting:


After misting:




Different angle after misting:






The whole pitcher:


So, any opinions on this? I am really baffled, i know that certain butterflies are attracted to the colour red, unlike most other insects. But the pitcher is already liberally coloured in red, and this red "dye" would only be visible after rain.
Reply With Quote
 


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
My N. Mirabilis var. echinostoma has a salty peristome! Durban Nepenthes 12 15th September 2009 09:17 AM
Nepenthes mirabilis var enchinostoma, a giant species of mirabilis??? Akirasama Nepenthes 13 23rd December 2008 01:35 AM
N. Mirabilis ??? shawnintland Nepenthes 16 13th November 2008 09:55 PM
Different peristome shape of mirabilis?? NepNut Nepenthes 0 12th September 2008 05:06 PM


All times are GMT +9. The time now is 02:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2019, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Site by David Tan, Founder and Administrator of petpitcher.net and forum.petpitcher.net