The plant, scientifically known as Saxifraga candelabrum, belongs to the order Saxifragales, which comprises more than 2,000 species of flowering plants.

The species grows on nutrient-poor rock faces across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Hengduan Mountains, from central and northern Yunnan to south-western Sichuan, at elevations of 2,500 to 3,300 metres.

Its reddish, sticky hairs attract and trap small insects, then digest their bodies and absorb nutrients, allowing the plant to survive in environments where soil nutrients are scarce.

Scientists explained that a plant is classified as carnivorous only if it can both capture prey and absorb nutrients from it, using specialised structures designed to attract, trap, digest and feed on animals.

Carnivorous plants are more commonly found in wetlands and marshes, where species such as the Venus flytrap, pitcher plants and sundews rely on insects to supplement their nutrient-poor habitats.