The direhorse pitcher plant (Na'vi name: pa’liwll meaning "direhorse plant"), although related to other tubular, pitcher-shaped carnivorous plants, is not carnivorous. Its green modified leaves are capable of photosynthesis and its roots obtain the nutrients it needs from the soil. This plant has co-evolved with the direhorse, whose snout fits perfectly into the tubular plant body to feed on the nectar located at the base of the plant. Flowers are produced just inside the tube, hidden from view.
A direhorse eating from the pitcher plant.
When the direhorse inserts its snout to feed on the nectar, its head brushes against the flower and gets covered with sticky pollen grains, which are transferred to other plants as the direhorse continues to feed. Although large pollinators such as lemurs and possums are known on Earth, this is the first plant-pollinator syndrome to be discovered that involved an animal as large as a horse.
The Na'vi cultivate direhorse pitcher plants to attract and feed direhorses and also to collect the sweet nectar for their own consumption.
Botanical Description
Large, beautiful pitcher-shaped plant with bright coloring. Contains abundant nectar that attracts direhorses.
Ecology
Large tubular plant body has coevolved with the direhorse, which feeds on the nectar at the base of the tube.
Sources
- Pandorapedia - Pseudocenia equina article
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