Cephalotus
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Cephalotus is a monotypic genus of southwest Australian pitcher plants, containing the single species Cephalotus follicularis, commonly called the Albany Pitcher Plant, the fly-catcher plant the mocassin plant, or the Western Australian Pitcher Plant.
The plant produces both non-carnivorous and carnivorous leaves, the latter looking something like small green moccasins.
Like many other pitcher plants, the pitcher has a peristome, which is the rim of downward pointing spikes surrounding the pitcher entrance, and a lid (operculum), which prevents excess rainwater from collecting in the pitcher and diluting its digestive enzymes. The operculum has patches of translucent cells which serve to confuse its insect prey by appearing like patches of sky.
The taxonomy of the family Cephalotaceae in the order Saxifragales has been abandoned. In a new, developing system this family comes in a new order (Oxalidales); others place it (probably wrongly) under Rosales.
References
- Conran et al (2000). [Cephalotus follicularis]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A2ac v2.3)
External links
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