Nepenthes attenboroughii
Discovered more than 5000 feet above see level n Mount Victoria in the Philippines, the giant carnivorous pitcher plant secretes a nectar-like substance to lure unsuspecting prey into pool of enzymes and acid. A series of sticky, downward ribs makes it nearly impossible for trapped prey to escape. The plant's 30- centimeter diameter is large enough to trap unlucky rodents, but insects are its most common meal.
They are lured into its slipper-like mouth to drown or die of exhaustion before being slowly dissolved by digestive enzymes.
They are lured into its slipper-like mouth to drown or die of exhaustion before being slowly dissolved by digestive enzymes.
Natural history explorer Stewart McPherson, who runs Red-fern Natural History Productions, discovered the plant during an expedition to mount Victoria in the Philippines,with fellow botanists Alastair Robinson and Volker Heinrich.
The plant, a member of the 'pitcher' family, grows more than 4ft long. The team said in a statement: 'That one of the largest carnivorous plants has remained undiscovered until the 21st century is remarkable.
Details of the discovery, named Nepenthes attenboroughii in honour of naturalist sir David Attenborough, were published in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. The plants produce large 'pitchers' which are big, hollow, water-filled leaf structure.
The plant then secrete nectar to attract insects and some rodent. The prey falls in and cannot escape back up the slippery, waxy interior of the trap.
All pitcher plant are carnivorous plants. They need to acquire nutrients by trapping and digesting animals (mainly insects) because they grow in really hostile areas where nutrients are scarce in the soil,' he said.
'This new species which was discovered in the Philippines produces pitcher traps that are green purple blotches, and they stand out clearly from surrounding vegetation.'
The structure of its leaves, pitchers and flowers suggests strongly that the new species is a close relative of the great Nepenthes rajah from Borneo and may be related to the Nepenthes flora of Palawan and Borneo.
Details of the discovery, named Nepenthes attenboroughii in honour of naturalist sir David Attenborough, were published in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. The plants produce large 'pitchers' which are big, hollow, water-filled leaf structure.
The plant then secrete nectar to attract insects and some rodent. The prey falls in and cannot escape back up the slippery, waxy interior of the trap.
All pitcher plant are carnivorous plants. They need to acquire nutrients by trapping and digesting animals (mainly insects) because they grow in really hostile areas where nutrients are scarce in the soil,' he said.
'This new species which was discovered in the Philippines produces pitcher traps that are green purple blotches, and they stand out clearly from surrounding vegetation.'
The structure of its leaves, pitchers and flowers suggests strongly that the new species is a close relative of the great Nepenthes rajah from Borneo and may be related to the Nepenthes flora of Palawan and Borneo.
Oleander
Nerium oleander
Nerium oleander is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, toxic in all its parts. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium. It is most commonly known as oleander, from its superficial resemblance to the unrelated olive Olea, but has many other names.
It is so widely cultivated that no precise region of origin, perhaps in southwest Asia, has been identified.
This extremely common evergreen shrub is one of the most poisonous plants in the world. The leaves, flowers and fruit contain cardiac glycosides, which have therapeutic applications but are likely to send someone into cardiac arrest should he eat part of plant. "People tend to be blase, because the flowers are bright and pretty, sort of candy-colored. But it is a very poisonous plant that will stop your heart."
Oleander grows to 2-6m (6.6-20 ft) tall, with erect stems that splay outward as they mature; first year stems have a glaucous bloom, while mature stems have a grayish bark.
N. oleander is native or naturalized to a broad area from Mauritania, Morocco and Portugal eastward through the Mediterranean region and the Sahara (where it is only found sporadically), to the Arabian peninsula, southern Asia and as far East as Yunnan in southern parts of china. It typically occurs around dry stream beds. Nerium Oleander is planted in many sub topical and tropical areas of the world.
