This was on the Cp Listserve. I'm just passing it along.
Morbid huh?
Mike
[b said:Quote[/b] ]Hi all,
I'm writing to announce a new addition to carnivory in plants. The
Washingtonia Palm, which is native to Southern California, is found to
be
carnivorous! As the trunk grows it becomes sheathed in dead leaves
which are not shed in this species. It has long been known that nesting
birds,
mainly pigeons, nest sheltered in the skirt of leaves. Great amounts of
the bird's droppings fall and are funneled by the skirt to the base of
the tree and nourish it. More recently it has been discovered that the
tree also kills pigeons. During times of high wind, the saw blade-like
leaf petioles move about and act as giant jaws to chew the roosting
birds
which are helpless and cannot fly during the night hours. The carcasses
drop to the base of the tree along with their droppings. This discovery
was made by a homeowner that often takes great displeasure at having to
weekly cleanup around this species. Dang I hate pigeons!
Ivan Snyder
Morbid huh?
Mike