A carnivorous plant found in China has provided modern evidence supporting Darwin’s theory about plant behavior proposed more than 150 years ago. Researchers have confirmed that the alpine plant Saxifraga candelabrum can attract, trap, digest, and absorb nutrients from insects, making it a true carnivorous species.
The discovery, led by Xin-Jian Zhang, provides new evidence for Darwin’s 19th-century theory that some plants in the Saxifraga group could have carnivorous abilities.
Darwin suggested in 1875 that certain Saxifraga plants might be carnivorous because of their sticky, gland-covered surfaces. However, his early experiments failed to provide enough evidence to confirm the idea. The question remained unresolved for more than a century.
Now, researchers have revisited Darwin’s hypothesis using modern field studies, laboratory tests and genetic analysis. Their findings show that Saxifraga candelabrum, a plant native to high-altitude regions of China, meets the scientific criteria for carnivory.
The study shows that the plant does not simply trap insects by chance. It actively attracts prey, breaks it down, and absorbs the released nutrients to support its growth.
A plant that hunts in mountain landscapes
Saxifraga candelabrum grows in the rocky environments of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Hengduan Mountains in southwestern China. The plant survives in dry, nutrient-poor cracks and crevices where resources are limited.
Researchers found that the plant’s stems and flowering branches are covered with tiny sticky hairs called glandular trichomes. These structures resemble the traps used by well-known carnivorous plants such as sundews.
Charles Darwin’s 150-year-old theory about carnivorous plants has finally gained new evidence.
Researchers led by Xin-Jian Zhang confirmed that a Chinese alpine plant, Saxifraga candelabrum, can attract, trap, digest and absorb nutrients from insects. pic.twitter.com/yR5JZE0z8q
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) August 7, 2026
Field observations revealed that small insects, especially fungus gnats from the Chironomidae family, were frequently trapped on these sticky surfaces. Mature plants contained an average of about 71 trapped insects.
The number of captured insects increased as plants developed more and longer flowering branches. This suggested that the plant’s structure helps improve its ability to capture prey.
Researchers also discovered that the plant uses scent to attract insects. Chemical analysis identified compounds, including beta-myrcene and eucalyptol, that are known to influence insect behavior.
The plant separates prey from pollinators
Carnivorous plants face a major challenge. They depend on insects for both food and pollination. Catching the wrong insects could reduce their ability to reproduce.
The study found that Saxifraga candelabrum appears to solve this problem by targeting smaller insects that are poor pollinators. Larger insects that help pollinate the plant were rarely trapped. This strategy allows the plant to gain nutrients without seriously affecting its reproduction.
Researchers say this differs from many other carnivorous plants that physically separate their flowers from their traps. Instead, Saxifraga candelabrum appears to control which insects it captures.
Evidence of digestion and nutrient absorption
To confirm true carnivory, scientists looked for evidence beyond insect capture. A carnivorous plant must be able to digest prey and absorb nutrients from it.
Laboratory tests showed that the plant’s glandular hairs produced phosphatase, an enzyme commonly found in carnivorous plants. This enzyme helps break down nutrients from captured animals.
Researchers also used insects containing a special nitrogen marker to track nutrient movement. After feeding the marked insects to the plants, scientists detected increased nitrogen levels inside Saxifraga candelabrum.
The results showed that the plant absorbed nutrients from its prey rather than simply trapping insects on its surface.
Genetic clues reveal convergent evolution
The researchers also studied the plant’s genome to understand how carnivory evolved. They found that Saxifraga candelabrum shares genetic patterns with other unrelated carnivorous plants, including sundews and other sticky-trap species. These similarities suggest that different plants evolved similar solutions when facing nutrient shortages.
The study identified genes linked to insect attraction, digestion, and nutrient transport. These genetic changes appear to have developed independently in different carnivorous plant groups through a process known as convergent evolution.
The findings add Saxifraga to the list of known carnivorous plant groups and show that insect-eating behavior may be more common among flowering plants than previously recognized.
Darwin’s idea finally receives confirmation
For more than a century, Darwin’s suggestion about Saxifraga remained an unanswered question in plant science. The new research provides the evidence he could not obtain during his lifetime.
Researchers say the discovery highlights how plants can adapt to harsh environments. In the nutrient-poor mountain habitats where Saxifraga candelabrum grows, capturing insects provides an additional source of essential nutrients.
The study also suggests that other plants with similar sticky structures may deserve closer investigation. Some overlooked species could have hidden carnivorous abilities waiting to be discovered.
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