An excitable membrane in the stalked glands of Drosera capensis L.

Abstract

Shortly after feeding the surface of the gland of Drosera capensis L. with whole milk or other protein sources the plasmalemma adjacent to the tracheid becomes highly modified. No vesicle is seen to approach the membrane from within the cytoplasm, but the surface of the membrane grows and evaginates outwards forming a small protruding papilla or bleb about 50-100 nm across. Finally the bleb is pinched off at the base and disappears into the tracheid.This form of stimulated "exocytosis" does not appear to have been observed in any other plant tissue, but may be a feature of those specialised organs that take up rapidly large quantities of externally applied nutrient.