Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-07-14
PLANTS THAT EAT.
Some Forms OF Vegetation
with an Appetite.
Interesting Species of Plant that Catch
Flies and Mosquitoes.

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
to attract insects, capture them in various
ways and feed upon them. A few of
these plants have been gathered from
their native habitat3 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 Diongc 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
the trap, while the fingers represent the
marginal hairs or teeth. On the inner
walls of these claspcrs there are placed
six irritable hairs, any one of which re-
cciving the slightest touch from an insect
is sufficient to bring the two blades to-
gether 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 the one being firmly pressed between
those Of the 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 bIue-bottle fly be placed in it, it will
remain firmly closed until every particle
of organic matter is absorbed through
the leaf. 1t will then unforld itself and
is ready for another meal.
Next in interest comes Sarracenia
purpurca. This species is popularity and
most appropriately called "The Vegetable
Whiskcy Shop" as it captures its
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
tluence 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 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 is
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 entangcd 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 more 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 a
pitiable plight; it attempts to use its
wings, but in doing so, only hastens its
own destruction. 1t inevitably reaches
the bottom, gets immersed in the liquid
and dies drunk.
Another species, which, were it plenti-
full, would prove boon and blessing
to man, is Drosera dichotoma, the mus
quito catcher. 1t grows about one foot
high, and as its specific name implies,
the leaves, after reaching a certain height,
bifurcato into long narrow spatches,
which are densely covered with club
tipped, rose colored hairs each of which
is covered with a bright gummy SUBJ
stance. This during sunshine, gives to
the plant most magnificent appearance.
This curious plant would seem to have
great attractions for the musquito, for if
a plant be placed in a room where they
abound, all of the troublesome pests
will, in brief period, be in its deadly
embrace, at first struggling to disin-
tanglc leg or wing, anon finding itself
more and more within its tolls. 1t is
most interesting to watch the method by
which it secures its prey. Immediately
the fly alights on the leaf, it may be that
only one of its six legs stick to the sweet,
viscid substance at the extremity of the
hairs, but in struggling to free itself it
invariably touches with its legs or wings
the contiguous hairs, and is Immediately
fixed. The hairs meantime are not idle;
being sensitive, they slowly but surely
curl round and draw their victim into
the very centre of the leaf, thus bring
ing it into contact with the very short
hairs, which are placed there in order to
facilitate the process of sucking the life
blood from the body. This interesting
plant is, besidesa few others, very diff
cult to cultivate. Even after initiating
nature as closely as possible, the plants
thrive but indiferently.
IL