The Economic Times

In 1875, Charles Darwin suggested some plants could capture insects using sticky hairs, but he couldn't prove it. 150 years later, researchers confirmed a Chinese species attracts and traps flies with the same mechanism

A groundbreaking study has validated Charles Darwin's long-standing hypothesis regarding carnivorous Saxifraga plants. Researchers discovered that Saxifraga candelabrum lures and ensnares flies through its sticky hairs. Analysis indicated that it employs phosphatase for digesting its insect prey. Furthermore, genetic evidence suggests that this plant is related to other carnivorous species, indicating that the phenomenon of plant carnivory might be more prevalent than earlier thought.