I found this article in the Daily Telegraph (UK) and thought people on this forum may be interested.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/6041241/Rat-eating-plant-discovered-in-Philippines.html
________________________________________________________________
Rat-eating plant discovered in Philippines
A carnivorous pitcher plant that eats rats and insects has been discovered in the Philippines and named after Sir David Attenborough.
The plant is among the largest of all pitchers and is believed to be the largest meat-eating shrub, dissolving rats with acid-like enzymes.
The team of botanists, led by British experts Stewart McPherson and Alastair Robinson, found the plant on Mount Victoria in the Philippines.
They were inspired to search for the plant after word that it is existed came from two Christian missionaries who described seeing a large carnivorous pitcher in 2000 after they climbed the mountain.
Mr McPherson, of Poole Dorset, said: "The plant produces spectacular traps which catch not only insects, but also rodents. It is remarkable that it remained undiscovered until the 21st century."
The team, which found the plant in 2007 following a two-month expedition, published details of their discovery in the Botanical Journal of Linnean Society earlier this year following a three-year study of all 120 species of pitcher plant.
They decided to name the plant Nepenthes attenboroughii, after the wildlife broadcaster Sir David.
"My team and I named it in honour of Sir David whose work has inspired generations toward a better understanding of the beauty and diversity of the natural world," added Mr McPherson.
"Rat-eating plant discovered in Philippines"
I think it is great, they have found more species of carnivorous plants. I think it's great they named it after Sir David. :)
There are already Nepenthes large enough to eat an unfortunate rat before the discovery of this plant.
Pest control with a twist...I like it! ~LOL~
As starsplitter7 so rightly says, there were already enough Nepenthes, that do eat small mammals.
It is a great find and I did see the article; however it needs someone to produce hybrids of these, then maybe we can get some that eat politicians and bankers, that would be nice!
I bet my ex-Boss at Kew is very pleased!
Regards from England!
Neil.