Stylidium rigidulum (Stylidium rigidulum)
Description
Stylidium�(also known as�triggerplants�or�trigger plants) is a genus of�dicotyledonous�plants�that belong to the family�Stylidiaceae. The genus name�Stylidium�is derived from the Greek�(column or pillar), which refers to the distinctive reproductive structure that its flowers possess.�Pollination is achieved through the use of the sensitive "trigger", which comprises the male and female reproductive organs fused into a�floral column�that snaps forward quickly in response to touch, harmlessly covering the insect in pollen. Most of the approximately 300�species�are only found in�Australia, making it the fifth largest genus in that country. Triggerplants are considered to be�protocarnivorous�or�carnivorous�because the glandular�trichomes�that cover the�scape�and flower can trap, kill, and digest small insects with�protease�enzymes produced by the plant. Recent research has raised questions as to the status of protocarnivory within�Stylidium.
Taxonomic tree
-
Domain: Eukarya
-
-
Kingdom: Plantae
-
-
Phylum:
-
-
Class: Magnoliopsida
-
-
Order: Asterales
-
-
Family: Stylidiaceae
-
-
Genus: Stylidium
-
-
-
-
-
-
