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BBUK4LYFE · 18-08-2009, 04:05 PM

LITTLE Shop of Horrors eat your heart out - or in this case, rats.

Scientists in the UK have discovered a giant killer plant that lures rodents and insects into its trap and devours them with acid-like enzymes, The Sun reports.

The remarkably rare giant pitcher plant is believed to be the largest meat-eating flora in the world.

The plant, which is green and red and has a stem that can grow up to 4ft long, can only be found high up on the windswept slopes of Mount Victoria in the Phillipines.

After hearing of missionaries who had seen “whole rats” being eaten by the shrub botanists Stewart McPherson and Alistair Robinson led a team of scientists to the Asian nation and uncovered the rare species.

"The plant produces spectacular traps which catch not only insects, but also rodents,” Mc McPherson said.

"It is remarkable that it remained undiscovered until the 21st century.”

The flesh-eating plant has been named after famous wildlife expert Sir David Attenborough, who Mr McPherson named as a nature inspiration.

"My team and I named it in honour of Sir David whose work has inspired generations toward a better understanding of the beauty and diversity of the natural world."

Named the "Nepenthes attenboroughii", Mr McPherson revealed he and Mr Robinson first made the discovery in 2007.

As for Mr Attenborough, how does he feel about having a vicious killer plant named after him?

"I'm absolutely flattered. This is a remarkable species the largest of its kind,” Mr Attenborough said.

"I was contacted by the team shortly after the discovery and they asked if they could name it after me. I was delighted and told them, ‘Thank you very much’.

"I'm told it can catch rats then eat them with its digestive enzymes. It's certainly capable of that."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...-13762,00.html