{
  "id": 144073,
  "title": "Sticky alpine flower confirms Darwin's 150-year-old carnivorous plant prediction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/sticky-alpine-flower-confirms-darwins-150-year-old-carnivorous-plant",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-04T19:40:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-sticky-alpine-darwin-year-carnivorous.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A newly discovered flowering plant, Saxifraga candelabrum, has been confirmed as a carnivorous species, validating a prediction made by Charles Darwin over 150 years ago. To be classified as carnivorous, the plant must attract, trap, digest, and absorb nutrients from insects. In 1875, Darwin proposed that certain Saxifraga species, typically found in alpine regions, could be carnivorous due to their sticky glandular hairs that trap insects. However, prior evidence supporting this hypothesis was lacking. Researchers studied S. candelabrum, which inhabits the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau–Hengduan Mountains in China. Field observations revealed insects on the plant's glandular hairs, with mature plants trapping an average of 71 insects. To test for digestion and nutrient absorption, researchers used fluorescence tagging to detect phosphatase activity, a digestive enzyme common in carnivorous plants. They also fed Drosophila labeled with nitrogen to the plant and observed a significant increase in labeled nitrogen levels in S. candelabrum and another carnivorous species, compared to noncarnivorous controls. Genetic analysis further supported their findings, showing genomic similarities with other independently evolved carnivorous plants, including genes involved in prey attraction, digestion, and nutrient absorption. This multidisciplinary evidence confirms Darwin's hypothesis that some Saxifraga species may be carnivorous, providing strong support for his prediction.",
  "summary": "A flowering plant, Saxifraga candelabrum, has been confirmed as a new carnivorous lineage. It grows in the mountains of southwest China at elevations above 8,200 feet. The plant has sticky hairs on its stems and branches that trap small insects, predominantly nonbiting midges.\n\nAccording to Phys.org, research published in Nature Communications shows that Saxifraga candelabrum can attract, trap, digest and absorb nitrogen from insects. This supports a prediction made by Charles Darwin over 150 years ago. Live Science reports that the plant's carnivorous habit likely evolved to supplement vital nutrients in nitrate-poor soils.\n\nThe discovery was made by researchers who studied the plant's ability to digest and absorb nutrients from insects. According to Live Science, study co-author Douglas Soltis said that this is the first demonstrated case of carnivory in the saxifrage plant group.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Scientist",
        "title": "Darwin proved right about gnat-trapping carnivorous plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/darwin-proved-right-about-gnat-trapping-carnivorous-plant",
        "published": "2026-08-04T15:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Science",
        "title": "'Darwin’s hypothesis provided an important inspiration': Scientists bolster 150-year-old Darwinian theory with a carnivorous plant in China",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/darwins-hypothesis-provided-an-important-inspiration-scientists",
        "published": "2026-08-04T16:42:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Science",
        "title": "'Darwin’s hypothesis provided an important inspiration': Scientists bolster 150-year-old Darwinian theory with a carnivorous plant in China",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/darwins-hypothesis-provided-an-important-inspiration-scientists",
        "published": "2026-08-05T11:03:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}