Carnivorous Albany pitcher plant threatened by poachers, but still baffles scientists

The Albany pitcher plant is only found on WA's south coast. (Supplied: Dr Adam Cross)

It has curled teeth and an appetite for devouring creatures.

The Albany pitcher plant eats its prey of insects and flies by snaring them with trickery and then dissolves them with enzymes. 

Its incredible survival adaptation and appearance has made it one of the most sought-after carnivorous plants by collectors across the world. 

Curtin University botanist Adam Cross is an expert in the rare and endangered species.

"It really is a distinctive plant … it has a real voracious appetite for ants," Dr Cross said.

"It's one of the most unique and incredible elements of Western Australia's incredible flora."

Mystery over species' appearance in WA

Curtin University researcher Adam Cross says the Albany pitcher plant is highly sought after by poachers. (Supplied)

The ancient plant is only found in a tiny pocket on WA's southern coast and is estimated to be 55 million years old.

While many similar pitcher plants have thrived in America and Asia, scientists do not know how this plant came to be endemic to Western Australia.

"Perhaps the most incredible aspect of it is that it is indeed a pitcher plant like many of the other pitcher plant group, yet it has evolved completely independently of all of those different kinds of pitcher plants," he said.

Gardening Australia visits Dr Adam Cross's own garden.

The pitcher section is about 5 centimetres in length.

"They have these wicked sorts of curled teeth across the opening of the pitcher, which is closed by a hood," Dr Cross said.

"That hood has a number of translucent windows in it, which trick insects into thinking that it's open sky, they fly in through those windows and it disorients them, directing them down into trap fluid."

The Albany pitcher plant's closest relatives live in America and Asia. (Supplied: Dr Adam Cross)

Poachers a threat to species

Its rarity means it is highly sought after on the private flora market.

"Hundreds of individuals take them and sell them to the hobby market," Dr Cross said.

"The demand for Albany pitcher plants that have been collected from the wild has been very high, there are instances of people even coming from interstate to dig up hundreds and hundreds of individuals to take them off and sell them into the hobby market.

"People all around the world now grow this plant because of its uniqueness and its amazing colour, shape and ecology."