It has been suggested that the foetida var gossypifolia is carniverous. I'm inclined to believe it after photographing some extreme close ups of the bracts, leaf stem and stem/bud junctions. The tentacle look very similar to the ones found on Sundews and have a sticky substance on the tips that entangle insects.
First a picture of the actual flower - this one was taken last year as I haven't had any open yet this year.
This message was edited May 22, 2010 7:52 PM
This is a close up of the Bract that surrounds buds and then the fruit.
Here you can see the junction of the main stem, leaf and bud. Note the tenticle structures on the leaf stem to your left, a new bud to the right and just below that which I think is another kind of bract maybe? I don't know the name of the structure. the main stem itself only has hairs on it. You can go here to see a 6.6 meg pix:
http://www.nerii.org/Ron/P_Foetida_vgoss_1.jpg
Here is a close up of a leaf stem. Notice there are hairs and tentacles. Go here for a 5.9 meg pix:
http://www.nerii.org/Ron/P_Foetida_vgoss_2.jpg
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