MISO SOUP FOR HUMANS AND MONKEYJAR - Arne Hendriks

Carnivorous plants have captured the imagination since their existence was first recognized. However, until well into the 19th century, carnivorous plants did not exist. Humans simply did not believe that plants could hunt and eat meat, which made it nearly impossible to recognize the telltale signs that proved otherwise. Eventually, it was Charles Darwin who, through careful observation, concluded that meat-eating by plants was an evolutionary adaptation to specific environmental factors. In his book Insectivorous Plants (1875), he examines how plants catch and kill insects, how meat consumption leads to increased plant fitness, and the origins of the specialized organs that carnivorous species have developed. Carnivorous plants must have a number of distinct characteristics that enable them to attract, catch, and digest prey. These characteristics give them an evolutionary advantage in terms of growth, survival, and reproduction. Carnivorous plants have evolved independently at least seven times, in different places on Earth. The conditions are often similar: lots of sunlight, enough water, and a nutrient-poor environment. Only when nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen are lacking does it seem sensible for plants to venture into meat-eating. In contrast to humans, the choice for the plant to become carnivorous does not seem to be a great success. There are indeed about 1000 species that eat meat, but they are often only present in small numbers and are certainly not dominant. It is mainly a way to survive. There are a number of known evolutionary reversals in which a carnivorous plant has become vegetarian. This can be the result of, for example, maturing. Where some plants still produce sticky droplets as young plants, this mechanism stops after a while, or the droplet is washed away during the first rain showers, after which no new sticky droplets are produced. Another cause may lie in the development of alternative food sources such as the droppings of insects, mice and even bats. Sometimes insects have been replaced by the consumption of algae, leaves and pollen. In these cases, meat-eating seems to have been mainly a temporary adaptation until other nutrients become available. In a climate where enough other food sources are available, plants rarely eat meat.

The wondrous and inspiring journey of the vegetarian carnivorous plant inspired the creation of an intimate meal for two: Nephenthes alata (Monkeyjar) & Homo sapiens (Human) are both invited to the table to enjoy a miso-flavoured vegetable soup.