Connecticut western news., 1886-07-21
PLANTS THAT EAT
Some Forms of Vegetation
 with an Appetite.

with an Appetite.
 Interesting Species of Plant that Catch Flies and Mosquitoes.
 Among the many rare and interesting plants forming the collection in the Botanical Garden at Washington there has recently been got together an almost complete set of insectivorous plants, so called from their being so constructed as 1 to attract insects, capture them in various ways and feed upon them. A few of these plants have been gathered from their native habitat; in the swamps of North Carolina and California, and others have been sent from India, Australia and Madagascar. Perhaps the best known of the group, and certainly the most wonderful plant in the whole vegetable kingdom is D.on@e muscipula, commonly known as Venus Fly Trap. The leaves vary from one to six inches long, and at the extremities are placed two blades or claspers, the shape of which may be said to resemble two hands placed together between the palms and the wrists, and the fingers held backwards. The palms of the hands represent the inner walls of tho trap, while the fingers represent the marginal hairs or teeth. On the inner walls of these claspers there are placed six irritable hairs, any one of which re- ceiving the slightest touch from an insect is sufficient to bring the two blades to- gcther with such rapidity as to preclude any possibility of the fly escaping. A correct idea of how the trap closes on its victim may be obtained by bringing the two hands rapidly together, the fingers of tho one being firmly pressed between those of tho other. This plant readily discriminatcs between animal and other matter; thus if small stone or piece of wood be dropped into the trap, it will instantly close, but as soon as it has found out its mistake, and it only takes few minutes, it begins to unfold its trap and the piece of wood or stone falls out. On the other hand, should piece of beef or Q blue bottle fly be placed in it, it will remain firmly closed until every particle of organic matter is absorbed through the leaf. It will then unforld itself and is ready for another meal. .t
 Next in interest comes Sarracenia purpurea. This species is popularly and most appropriately called ''The Vegetable Whiskey Shop" as it captures it's victims by intoxication. The entire shop is shaped after the manner of a house, with the entrance projecting a little over the rim. Half way round the brim of the cavity there arc an immense number of honey glands, which the in- fuence of the sun brings into active operation. This sweet secretion acts as lure to passing insects, and they are pretty sure, should they come within its influence, to alight on the outside edge and tap the nectar. They, however, re. main there but a brief period, as there is something more substantial inside the cavity in the shape of an intoxicating liquid, which IS distilled by the plant. The way down to this beverage ii straight; there is no crossing over, as the entrance is paved with innumerable fine hairs all pointing to the bottom, and should the fly walk crooked, its feet be- come entangled in them. When the fly has had its first nip, it does not stop and fly right out, as it could do, but it in. dulges until it is moro than ''half seas over;" it then comes staggering up and reaches that portion where the hairs be- gin; here its progress outward is stopped owing to the points of the hairs being placed against it. The fly is now in { pitiable plight; it attempts to use it wings, but in doing so, only hastens it own destruction It inevitably reaches the bottom, gets immersed in the iqui6 and dies drunk
 Another species, which, were it plenti . full, would prove boon anda blessing to man, is Drosera dichotoma, the mus quito catcher. It grows about one foot high, and as its specific name implies the leaves, after reaching certain height bifurcate into long narrow spatches which are densely covered with clul tipped, rose colored hairs, each of whicl . is covered with bright gummy sub ' stance. This, during sunshine, gives tt the plant most magnificent appearance '' This curious plant would seem to have great attractions for the musquito, for i 2 a plant be placed in room where the, abound, all of the troublesome pest
 will, in brief period, be in its deall,
 embrace, at first struggling to dfsin 8 tang'e a leg or wing, anon finding itsel ) more and more within its tolls. It i s most interesting to watch the method b, e which it secures its prey. Immediatel, 0 the fly alights on the leaf, it may be tha l. only one of it's six legs stick to the sweet a viscid substance at the extremity of tn
 hairs, but in struggling to free itself i d invariably touches with its legs or wing
 the contiguous halrs, and is immediatel,
 fixed. The hairs meantime are not idle
 being sensitive, they slowly but surel, h curl round and draw their victim int d the very centre of the leaf, thus bring
 ing it into contact with the very shor