plant do n’t broadly have a repute for being badass . Then again , not many have people heard ofPuya chilensisand the hearsay of its " sheep - eat " exploits .
P. chilensisis native to central Chile , typically found on the arid hillside of the Andes at an altitude of 300 to 1,000 measure ( 980 to 3,280 foot ) . It ’s a fellow member of thebromeliadplant menage , meaning it ’s a close relative of the pineapple .
However , P. chilensisisn’t as friendly as its fruity family members . The plant ’s pointed leaf are armed with discriminating spines that can snare sheep , birds , and other pass beast . finally , the trapped animals starve to death and molder at the base of the plant , releasing nutrients that the roots steep – or that ’s the guess , at least .
There ’s not much scientific literature on the topic , although there are very standardised story about another member of the same plant genus that also feature burred foliation : Puya raimondii , considerably known as the “ poof of the Andes . ”
A1980 studyexplains how dead birds are often happen inside the spiny foliage ofP. raimondii . In 17 plants they came across , the investigator found a total of 44 deadened hiss that had become trapped inside , including a deceased barn bird of Minerva .
“ Virtually all the dead birds were securely wedged by legion spine between the closely clustered leaves , or against the tree trunk at the home of the leaves , ” the field writer write .
“ The chemical mechanism for this became obvious when we tried ( unsuccessfully ) to retrieve stiff for designation . A clothed arm immediately became dependent on several recurved spines . The only way to release the hoods without prejudicious shape or garment was to hold out the branch further into the industrial plant , ” they add .
This curious observance led the researcher to evoke the plant might be obtaining nutrients from the crumble shuttlecock . They conclude : “ We further hypothesized that the plant might gain from their association with birds by take up unfreeze nutrients originating from birdie muck , and perhaps from the decomposing bodies of trap birds . ”
Otherscientists have speculatedthat at least three other bromeliad species might also use this “ unique nutrient accomplishment strategy . ” If true , it would suggest that members of the bromeliad family are “ protocarnivorous , ” a trait that may have led to the evolution of true carnivorous works , likeVenus flytrapsandpitcher industrial plant .
Much likeP. raimondii , the “ sheep - eating”P. chilensiscan take avery long time to flower – but it put on quite a spectacle when it does . It take around 15 years to blossom , upon which it produces a orotund yellow that stands up to 2 beat ( 6 feet 7 inches ) high .
