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LAKE
WALES, Fla.(UPI) -- Scientists at a biological station
in Lake Wales, Fla., have found a rare underground carniverous
plant, the St. Petersburg Times reported Monday.
The
species of utricularia grows underground and eats nematodes
and other tiny underground creatures with a nodule that
sucks the meat into the plant.
The
organism was discovered at the Central Florida Archbold
Biological Station in Lake Wales. Discoverers of the plant
were botanists Kevin Hogan of the University of Florida
and fellow botanist Stephen Mulkey.
"Here's
something that's beyond belief," marveled Hogan.
He said the species is unlike any other.
Utricularia
can conduct photosynthesis underground due to the white
quartz sand at the 5,100 acre biological station.
By
growing underground, the plant is protected from evaporation.
It has leaves that grow upward and roots that grow downward
from the underground main stalk.
Now
that utricularia has been discovered on Lake Wales Ridge,
site of the biological station, scientists are looking
for more of the organism on the grounds.
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