First Carnivorous Plant Exhibition Hall In Northwest China Opens in Yili Botanical Garden

A captivating new attraction has opened its doors in Xinjiang, Northwest China. After four months of dedicated effort, the Northwest's first exhibition hall dedicated to carnivorous plants officially debuted on September 16 at the Yili Botanical Garden, hosted by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Spanning 110 square meters, the state-of-the-art hall is now home to an impressive collection of over 500 rare and exotic carnivorous plants, representing more than 20 distinct species and their varied cultivars.

The exhibition hall showcases a diversity of carnivorous plants. It features iconic specimens such as various species of Nepenthes, including the Nepenthes ventricosa, the Nepenthes VLB, and the Nepenthes Miranda. Alongside these, visitors will find the familiar Venus flytrap, distinct varieties of sundews like the all-red Drosera capensis L. and the narrow-leaved Drosera capensis L., the Madagascar sundew (Drosera madagascariensis DC.), Drosera spatulata Labill., and the Sarracenia purpurea L. These fascinating plants are not only a feast for the eyes, boasting considerable ornamental value, but also serve as living laboratories, demonstrating ingenious insect-catching mechanisms and remarkable evolutionary adaptations.

"The completion of this specialized exhibition hall enriches the variety of our greenhouse exhibition halls here," stated the responsible official from the Yili Botanical Garden. "More importantly, it provides young people across Xinjiang with an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with natural science. Through interactive displays and expert explanations, children can gain a profound understanding of the ecological roles, evolutionary journeys, and unique survival strategies of these remarkable plants. We anticipate this experience will ignite a passion for botany and cultivate a deeper appreciation for nature conservation."

The establishment of the Carnivorous Plant Exhibition Hall received crucial support from the Kunming Botanical Garden. Its successful launch represents a pivotal advancement for Yili Botanical Garden in its mission to promote science education. Looking ahead, the garden plans to implement further themed science popularization initiatives, collaborating with local schools, offering study tours, and broadening public scientific literacy, thereby bolstering regional science outreach efforts.

Nepenthes

Venus flytrap

Narrow-Leaved Drosera capensis L.

Sarracenia purpurea L.

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn