Rare carnivorous plant discovered in Brazil

Philcoxia minensis has flowers above the ground, but beneath the soil lurk sticky leaves that can trap and eat roundworms

Carnivorous plant found recently in Brazil uses buried leaves to catch and devour worms in the soil.

A plant’s leaves are usually known to be photosynthetic organs, absorbing whatever nutrients they need from the sun and atmosphere, so it came as a surprise to find a plant which gets its nutrients not only from the soil, but from an entirely different species. The leaves of the plant – which are more abundant below ground than above – act as a trap, waiting for an earthworm to pass close enough. Enzymes within the leaves help break down the flesh of the worms rapidly so that the plant can digest the nutrients. ~ Red Orbit