Chimaera Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 Has anyone tried to replicate Darwin's classic experiment on the reason some plants are carnivores? As far as I can tell he placed items that were carbon rich and nitrogen poor (bread, sugar water) on some leaves of sundew, and some nitrogen rich, carbon poor (meat, his urine) on others, and only the latter caused the leaves to close up showing they needed the nitrates. I tried to with D. capensis but the leaves did not noticeably respond in any case (and only slightly to insects). I assume he used one of the native species. I would like to replicate and photograph this for teaching and general interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kisscool_38 Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 Darwin did his experiments on Drosera rotundifolia. The respond will be greater and faster when temperatures will become warmer during spring and summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcel van den Broek Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/home-of-charles-darwin-down-house/history/recreating-darwin's-experiments/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimaera Posted February 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 Thanks, I tried it in summer but have now got a couple of D.anglica, and I will try them when they wake up in Spring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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