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Darwin Vindicated: Alpine Saxifraga Confirmed as Carnivorous

A multidisciplinary study shows the plant digests and absorbs insect nitrogen, revealing convergent genetic changes tied to survival on nutrient-poor mountain rock faces.

Saxifraga candelabrum uses odors to attract insects and then digests the prey.
The plant species Saxifraga candelabrum, which rarely traps larger pollinators such as flies that play an important role in its reproduction, stands in this handout picture taken on September 25, 2024, at Wufeng Mountain, Shangri-La, Yunnan, China, released August 4, 2026. Xian-Jian Zhang/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT
Sticky glandular hairs on the plant species Saxifraga candelabrum are shown trapping insect prey, in this handout picture taken on September 25, 2024, at Wufeng Mountain, Shangri-La, Yunnan, China, released August 4, 2026. Xian-Han Huang/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT
A flowering individual of the plant species Saxifraga candelabrum, with numerous insects trapped by its sticky glandular hairs, in this handout picture taken on September 5, 2021 at Wufeng Mountain, Shangri-La, Yunnan, China, released August 4, 2026. Xin-Jian Zhang/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Overview

  • A team led by researchers at the Kunming Institute of Botany published evidence on Aug. 4, 2026 that Saxifraga candelabrum actively attracts, traps, digests and absorbs nutrients from insects.
  • Field and herbarium surveys found insect-trapping is widespread, with insects present on 43 of 45 specimens and mature plants averaging about 71 trapped insects each.
  • Laboratory tests detected phosphatase enzyme activity in the plant’s sticky glandular hairs and a 15N isotope feeding trial showed prey-derived nitrogen moved into plant tissues.
  • Experiments showed floral scent draws mostly tiny non-pollinating insects while larger pollinators escape, and genomic comparisons revealed shared genetic signatures with other carnivorous plants.
  • Because S. candelabrum lives on dry, high-elevation rock faces rather than bogs, the finding expands where and how carnivory can evolve and suggests more flowering-plant lineages may hide similar traits.