The drosera carnivorous plant

New discovery fundamentally changes the way we understand Charles Darwin’s most beloved plant – the sundew

A new study has found a symbiotic relationship that has evolved between Darwin’s favourite carnivorous plant and a specific type of fungus which lives inside it and helps it digest its prey.

Researchers from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, Taiwan and USA have shown that Acrodontium crateriforme, a fungus that thrives in the acidic conditions on the leaves, improves the digestion of the Drosera species of carnivorous plant – otherwise known as a sundew (pictured above), and once described by Charles Darwin as, "a wonderful plant… I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species."

The fungus lives in a sticky secretion at the end of tentacles on the leaves. Its enzymes work with the plant's own digestive processes to help it break down the prey – small bugs and insects.

In a new paper, published in Nature Microbiology the lab group in Academia Sinica in Taiwan studied what happens during prey digestion when the plant is digesting prey alone versus when the plant and fungus are both together, this demonstrated that when fungus and plant grow together prey digestion is faster than when the plant is trying to digest the prey by itself.

Brandon and Dr Millett, of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ School of Social Sciences and Humanities, showed that Acrodontium crateriforme is present in at least four species of carnivorous Drosera species across three continents.

“Our data showed that A. crateriforme is present and often dominant in several other Drosera species growing in Taiwan and both the UK and the US,” said Brandon.

“The fact that this fungus is present in different plants in different locations provides strong evidence that this symbiosis has co-evolved and has been important in driving adaptations to plants being carnivorous.”

“This work transforms our understanding of how carnivorous plants work, but also demonstrates that for some carnivorous plants, this symbiotic relationship with a fungi is a core part of carnivory.”

Dr Millet added: “The evolution of carnivorous plants has fascinated scientists right back to Darwin, who wrote a book about them, however, the role of fungal symbionts in the evolution and function of carnivorous plants has been overlooked, which is why this study is significant.”

“This study provides the first extensive picture in the role of a fungus in plant carnivory and therefore alters our idea of how this unique adaptation may evolve i.e. collaboration between plants and fungi may help to drive plant evolution.”

The project was funded by UKRI through NERC.

ENDS

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 24/127

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines. 

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running. 

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. 

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes. 

The º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking. 

Categories