Comments on: Meat-eating plant digests insects using ants

By: Grisham

Grisham — Sun, 13 May 2012 08:32:22 +0000

Ah, now it is clear. Indeed, the genus Nepenthes contains many plants that are climbing vines and lianas. I believe the authors meant the whole plant reaches a height of 20 meters as a climbing liana.

And a quick look at Wikipedia on Nepenthes bicalcarata tells us that it is the largest plant in the genus, “climbing up to 20 m into the forest canopy”.

So I think you’d want to change that sentence.

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:43:21 +0000

Here’s the direct bit in the paper: “This may explain why Nepenthes bicalcarata displays exceptional leaf life span and vegetative growth, reaching heights up to 20 m into the forest canopy.”

It references a book I can’t get. Have I interpreted this wrongly?

By: Amelia Belmond

Amelia Belmond — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:41:59 +0000

Ed, would you please answer @Grisham’s question about whether it’s the leaves or the vine that grows up to 20 meters? The former would be astounding, and I’d love to see a picture.

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:29:52 +0000

@Nick – It came in an unexpected burst of inspiration. Or desperation. I can never tell which.

By: Grisham

Grisham — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:57:19 +0000

Wait, the LEAVES extend 20 meters up into the canopy? Or do you mean the main vine?

By: Nick Leverton

Nick Leverton — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:03:33 +0000

I have no followup, I just want to know how long you’ve been saving up that “forces of weevil” line.