Renee; UR: Trichomes, ants and public service announcements, OH MY!

I would like to start off with some kudos to Kristen our favorite librarian for her Botany Research Guide! It was full of all sorts of articles about pitcher plants including one which detailed some of the unique features of the Okefenokee subspecies of S. minor (Sarracenia minor). One particular detail concerning trichomes (Trichomes are hair-like growths that form on the epidermis or outer "skin" of plants) caught my eye. It struck me as very odd that the pitchers of S. minor okefenokeensis would be taller than my S. minors but then exhibit fewer trichomes when it is generally hypothesized that these trichomes help the plants prey of mostly crawling insects reach the opening of the pitchers. (Stephens, J. D)

This fancy fellow is Dorsera tokaiensis,
a hybrid created in Japan and a favorite for terrariums!

Trichomes are important for other plants including my second favorite category of carnivorous plant the sundew. These often little guys have impressive trichomes that secrete a sticky fluid which helps them catch, hold and digest prey. The fluid contains digestive enzymes but they aren't potent enough to hurt the curious passerby if you should be so inclined as to poke one. Sundews come in many shapes, sizes and colors as you can see to the left and below. (Per Dr. Ray Emmett's Native Plants class)

As the weather warms up sundews like this Drosera capillaris
will be popping up to keep my pitcher plants company at Longleaf
Pine Preserve!

I also found a fascinating study concerning the protective advantages of the ants that S. minor specializes in. It was observed that the presence of ants deterred female Exyra  semicrocea, better known as the pitcher plant mining moth, from laying her eggs on the pitchers effectually saving the plants from being devoured by the moth's caterpillars; however, other sites dominated by the fiercer fire ants we as Floridians should be familiar with would likely ...

This scary dude is a grown by Sunbelle Exotics
in south Florida. Guess who my newest pitcher
will be once I get some extra cash?

...experience benefits against larger herbivorous because of these ant's naturally higher levels of aggression. This scenario was not obsurved during the study however and remains an intuitive hypothesis. (Wheeler, E.)

To the left is another species of pitcher mentioned in the previously mentioned study as an example of pitcher plants that without question use ants as a defense mechanism. It is a Nepenthes bicalcerata which is endemic (a fancy word for a plant or animal that is native to or restricted to a certain area or country) to Borneo but is sold commercially. In the wild this plant actually houses the ants in the hollow tendrils that the pitchers hang from and the ants in turn defend the pitcher from weevils!

This pitcher was so wonderfully unique I couldn't help but include it! Nepenthes bicalcerata's common name is the fanged pitcher plant. (I wonder why, any guesses?) It's from the same family as I suspect my plant babies are!!(remember them from my previous posts?)


Citations:
Stephens, J. D., Godwin, R. L., & Folkerts, D. R. (2015). Distinctions in Pitcher Morphology and Prey Capture of the Okefenokee Variety within the Carnivorous Plant Species Sarracenia minor. Southeastern Naturalist, 14(2), 254-266.

Wheeler, E., Rossi, A. M., Moon, J., Moon, D., Mckelvey, L., Elias, S., Depaz, J. (2010). Ants provide nutritional and defensive benefits to the carnivorous plant Sarracenia minor. Ocelogia, 164(1), 185-192  

A Brief Public Service Anouncement:
For anyone in Volusia county or who plans to move to Volusia county in the future there is a new Wetland Review Ordinance being proposed by the county. 
From what I understood of the public presentation slide show given on February 8th that is posted at the Volusia County Wetlands Ordinance Discussion webpage on the county website the only major change to what is currently held as a standard by the St. Johns Water Management District is that areas marked as Priority Review Wetlands would require a 50ft buffer rather than a 25ft buffer between the wetland and any development. 
I encourage everyone to check out the webpage and bring any questions or concerns to the county's attention now. Those in Ormond may want to talk to the city as I was told they have already been rather vocal in their concerns about how businesses and homes along the Halifax River will be effected but the proposed regulations.