Heterotrophic plants can often be found on the forest floor. Down there, in the dark, where the wind seldom reaches, common methods of seed dispersal stop working. But new research by Professor Kenji Suetsugu (@tugutuguk) of Kobe University shows that heterotophic plants have evolved a novel solution, in the form of camel crickets (Tachycines elegantissima).
(a) Tachycines elegantissima feeding on Yoania amagiensis fruit. (b) Tachycines elegantissima feeding on Monotropastrum humile fruit. (c) Diestrammena japonica feeding on Phacellanthus tubiflorus fruit.
Read more on the New Phyt blog.
Read the paper: Suetsugu, K. (2017) Independent recruitment of a novel seed dispersal system by camel crickets in achlorophyllous plants. New Phytologist. doi: 10.1111/nph.14859
Mike Whitfield (@mgwhitfield)
Development Coordinator
New Phytologist
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