LAKE WALES,
Fla.(UPI) -- Scientists at a biological station in Lake Wales,
Fla., have found a rare underground carniverous plant, the St.
Petersburg Times reported Monday.
The species
of utricularia grows underground and eats nematodes and other
tiny underground creatures with a nodule that sucks the meat into
the plant.
The organism
was discovered at the Central Florida Archbold Biological Station
in Lake Wales. Discoverers of the plant were botanists Kevin Hogan
of the University of Florida and fellow botanist Stephen Mulkey.
"Here's
something that's beyond belief," marveled Hogan. He said
the species is unlike any other.
Utricularia
can conduct photosynthesis underground due to the white quartz
sand at the 5,100 acre biological station.
By growing
underground, the plant is protected from evaporation. It has leaves
that grow upward and roots that grow downward from the underground
main stalk.
Now that
utricularia has been discovered on Lake Wales Ridge, site of the
biological station, scientists are looking for more of the organism
on the grounds.
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