Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-06
1aifp- Nenaebrt yonrnal.
FLESH DIET FOR PLANTS.

The pretty little plant called Drosera or
sundew. develops some strange animal IN
stincts. 1t is a charming plant, with us
lovely pink blossoms, while the dew-like
substance issuing from its glands gives II a
most cool and refreshing appearance on
warm summers day. But though it looks
the yery picture of innocence and gentle
ness it has strange taste for Selling,
killing, and sucking the blood of insects,
and for grasping and eating raw beet.
Mrs. Mary Treat has contributed to the
American Naturalist some very curious
observations made upon this remarkable
plant. She found the specimens upon
which she experimental in New jersey.
The plant was in full bloom, and growing
very thickly on either side of an extensive
cranberry plantation. The first expert
ments were made with best known species
the Drosera filiformis. Some living flies
were pinned half an inch from the leaves
near the apex, about ten O'Clock IN the
morning In forty minutes the leaves had
bent perceptibly towards the flies. In
two hours the leaves had reached the flies
and their legs were entangled among the
bristles and held fast. The flies were then
removed three quarters of an inch further
from the leaves The leaves still remained
bent towards the flies, but could not reach
them at this distance. The observer thinks
that the action of the flies wings may have
created sufficient force to bring the leaves
near enough to entangle the flies, for dead
flies failed to produce the same result as
living ones.
On the same day bits of raw beef were
placed on some of the most vigorous leaves
of another species of the plant, the
Drosera Longitolia. In two hours, two
of the leaves had folded around
the beef, hiding it from sight.
Living flies were also placed upon the
species of the plant. In a little more than
an hour one of the leaves had folded en-
tirely around its victims, the other leaves
had practically folded, and the flies had
ceased to struggle. Two hours later, four
leaves had each folded around fly. The
leaf folds from the apex to the petiole, after
the manner of its venation. But the Dro-
sera manifests very decided choice in re-
gard to its gustatory fancies. Expert
ments were made with bits of dry chalk,
magnesia, and pebbles, but the plant would
have nothing to do with them, and after
twenty-four hours neither leaves nor
bristle had made the slightest movement
towards clasping these articles.
A similar result was produced upon the
Drosera rotundifolia This variety has
longer bristles around the edge Of the leaf,
and simply curls its bristles around its vic
Tins, the glands on the ends of the bristles
thouching the substance, like SO many
mouths receiving nourishment. Some bits
Of raw beef were place upon the leaves
about 10 o'clock in the morning. In two
hours the inner bristles were curving about
it, and the longer bristles at the edge of
the leaf were curving upwards. AT 9
O'Clock in the evening the bristles Of the
three most vigorous leaves were clasping
the beef, concealing it from sight.
Neither is this ferocious plant contented
with small insects. Flies of the largest
size. moths without number. and butter
flies, many of them measuring two inches
across, were held captive till they died,
the treacherous flowers and shining dew
Turing them to destruction. The larger
insects after death fell around the roots of
the plants as if to fertilize them, while the
smaller flies remained adhering to the
leaves. These curious plant thus seem to
manifest decided preference for meat,
absorbing the animal substances through
sheir leaves. Mr.. Darwin says that by
pricking point in the leaf of Drosera, he
can paralyze half of it, and this indicates
the existence of nerves.