Alpine flower proves Darwin's 150-year-old carnivorous plant prediction

A flowering plant has been confirmed as a new carnivorous lineage, according to research published in Nature Communications, supporting a prediction made by Charles Darwin more than 150 years ago. The study found that Saxifraga candelabrum can attract, trap, digest and absorb nitrogen from insects. Field observations showed insect prey on the glandular hairs of 43 out of 45 surveyed specimens, with mature plants averaging 71 trapped insects. Researchers used fluorescence tagging to identify digestive enzyme activity and fed the plant Drosophila labeled with stable nitrogen, observing a notable rise in labeled nitrogen levels. Genetic analysis revealed similarities with other carnivorous plants, providing strong evidence for Darwin's 1875 hypothesis about the genus Saxifraga.