Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-10-04
4 CarniverOuS Pitcher.Plant.

A CarmiverOus Pitcher.Plant.
| Early in March the new leaves Of the pitch
! er-plant (SNracenia ruriolurts) begin t.
make their appearance, and soon after
the large yellow flower, with its droopin;
| petals, Is very conspicuous everywhere OF
| the damp plne-barrcnS of Floridl 1t i
one of the most remarkable of all our in
,cctiverous plants, and destroys by far
| larger number of insects than any carni
vorouS plant with which | ann acquainted
| The leaves are from six to twelve inchp
in length, hollow. and trumpet shaped
they stand very erect. and the opening i
covered by Il rounded arching hood. jus
below the hood the leaf is spotted will
pure VIII e. and these spots are surround
ed by bright scarlet veins. The inner sur
face of the hood is lined with brilliant col
or>; finely re.icUlted veins Of scarlet run
over a velowi>h ground. \ broad win.
extends along one side of the leaf from til,
base to the opening of the summit; ll
wing is bound or edged by Il purpli>l
cord, which also extends around the open
me. His cord or edge of the WING is on,
OF the most wonderful features of tn
! plant.
From observations taken on the gloun,
where the plants rev, found innumcra
die insects We're attracted to them tn,
Hunting yellow flower may lure man,
moths and butterflies to the plant. but tn,
cord is lhc attraction after they reach il
His cord tlnt runs along the edge of til,
wing srcrctc> Il sweet iluid, and rs til,
wing Reaches To the base of the leaf. in
>et,s that crawl on the ground rs we'll 4,
those that fly are attracted to this >wec
secretion. | noticed on some of the plant:
\ line of small ants, extending from III,
bt>c OF the leaf to the summit. f edinr on
the sccrction 50 numerous were they thai
crowded each other, hut al steadily nd
vanclny to the opening. down which the,
disappeared.
All persons who have observed ants fec,
inc have probably noticed the regular or
der in which they move to and from thrii
food. The aphi,!cs (plant- licc) produce :
sweet secretion of which TIN ants are very
fond. Iinnru> with his fertile inayin:i
ton, called the aphidc~ the ants COWS
The ants are very friendly toward the APP
hides. we can see. for they supply then
with abundant food, on which the, thrive
Now If we observe the ants tcc,!m. on tli,
secretion from the aphid,> We can also s.,
tht ttcv form two regular lines the hun
Try ones moving up the stem to take then
loo'' ANA 'il' satisfied one, returning dow
tie stem; and very friendly and frttcrn1
they seem, never gtIting in each other
way. bat often greeting one another Il
they meet, putting the 7ntcnna' together
Is II communicating something. and then
.h'S p!>s on 'acil MS own WAY. Marx
.he "!lI'f'ilce when the ant~ are found
i'e"'h- on lllr sweet secretion OF >nfN'elt-
~ c|V tFtN: now they crowd and jo>tl,
one 'h"'her' ana seem Wild III their move
hithl>' ana ''ll are advancing III one line
toward the summit OF Tie leaf. on rcachr.
"iIVh li'N disappear down tie wide
thFo"t "f the H4~ail"h!" >trr' 'eIllt. No re-
'urm i'hI mere.
i"'s l "o9trNeH on III" pine barren,
"H'i 'ir p 'h'> grew now took a large
,"P?'H oi I''N'' 10 my study. ana placed
~ 80 ~ az VI" '2"l position III vases OF
""'' |" h''t' III, III Nr>ii. ana opened the
"ih"'"> - 'dilll me Nt!lpI> insects that
~ 81 '''''i- III 'Hc AR IT tins season.
"'' '''' room WIS well supplied with tie
'''''''i''l no" returned The
~ ''i' ""N' ana 81 d""h /"
way" - number "l h'> were
GOA - - '''' 1" t''' l'itAl~' ana almost II
n''. - .'' 90" 'lit >'!r' t'on they "ried
= "t> astonishing To >re how
'i!' :" '''''H- lh'N became
"f'', ',''' Wv, no' io'''' my ''ii IN close
>',' - law w, iI'' attention TO
II ,N,,i',i t'.'n' ''','I lf""l 'h' rear
,,'..', i,', "''!'''' ny Il SNORT dS
',nI ,' :" ','''H :, i':"'Nt' L" 'I'' i'i'
''' 49, t'N|rlil- llNtt.t tl ltit'
M ~ WIN up '"' Dry smooth
n,L"n,,. I'M I'''''',I '' "h'' Il W'>
= ''''' ''''' ~ ~ i'' US l" ND
,.,,, ,' ~ AZ ''''"'H 'ouh i i'Al and
'u' ''' ''';, "iri'!H2 J.. "o"nW'tfd; :nd Gently
- ',''' ''''i''f" fi;'ti dozen or
''"'' '''' ''",H were soon on the leaves
-,' w. " r,'n'H 'II'IS |" >'rH3ht'n them
Ivy NOUS pass ''l'lr les over
their f. ,r, J's s.' ',,,H were u i,; "n
''''t o>t''''' |" he intoxicated