Rat-Eating Plant Declared New Species
Sadly, thought to already be extinct in the wild
Some time in the 1980s, botanist and adventurer Rob Cantley discovered the "Queen of Hearts" pitcher plant in Borneo. Although most pitcher plants are content to trap and devour small insects like ants and flies, the Queen of Hearts has pitchers which can be over eight feet long. Long enough to ensnare and slowly devour larger mammals, including mice and rats.
Pitcher plants trap their victims using modified leaves or flowers. These are curled into a tube and set upright, then filled with a sweet combination of nectar and trapped rainwater. Many pitcher plants also feature backwards-pointing hairs, which make it easy for their prey to slip into the jug - and difficult for them to climb out. The inside of the jug is slippery and curved in order to make escape impossible.
