The Dump Vine

Dump Vines (vastumcomedenti hydriavinea, jar-vine waste-eater) are descendants of purple pitcher plants that live in the forests of North America and europe.

Evolution

The dump vine first started evolving after forests returned. They began to grow taller in order to attract flying insects but they weren't as sturdy. In order to combat the support issue they started to use trees and other tall vegetation as support. They developed tendrils in order to climb higher. Their traps developed to grow along the vine instead of at the bottom of the plant.

Biology

Dump vines retain their carnivory and have the same pitfall trap mechanism. The pitcher is about 5 inches long and 2 inches long in diameter. The vine can grow up to 40 feet long and grow 10 pitchers along its side. The flowers of the dump vine grow on the top and are kept far away from the pitchers in order to not kill pollinators. The pitchers have a stronger nectar gland to attract more prey to the trap.

Symbiotic Relationships and reproduction

Dump vines have symbiotic relationships with lots of different creatures. They usually serve as toilets for many different animals and absorb the nitrogen from their feces, if the pitcher catches the animal while its defecating, even better. The pitchers also serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and the larvae eat whatever falls in the pitcher. The pitcher plants also have a unique relationship with ants.

Some arboreal ant colonies use the pitcher plants to their advantage with the plants getting something back in return. The ants use the plants as dumping grounds for dead ants and whatever waste they need to get rid of, practically using them as toilets, gravesites, and dumpsters at the same. In exchange for being given free food from the ants, the plant provides   the colony with nectar from the lip as well as a means of pest control. The ants even pollinate the flowers and plant the seeds at the bases of different trees.