The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-05-01
Curiosities Of PIant Life.

Most plants derive their nutriment
from the ground by means of their roots,
but there are those which feed on insects,
and are very curiously adapted for this
purpose. Specially to be noted of this
class are the pitcher plants, of which
there is quito variety. One of the
most beautiful grows on the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, in Northern Califor.
mia, higher up than the top of Mount
Washington. It is called Darlingtonia
Calvornica. It has no leaves, but from
the root there grow two kinds Of pitchers,
some of them small, others Large, veined
and beautifully coloted, having curved
roof and two long Aaring wings. Each
ofthese pitchers is twisted about half
turn. The colors are brilliant reds, yell
lows and greens. richer and mellower
than most plants of this sort. The flower
grows on a stem four or FIVE feet in
height, and resembles red and yellow
striped tulip hanging downward. Both
flower and pitcher are arranged as trap
to entice and catch the unwary insect.
In North Carolina there is a pitcher
plant that has some ordinary leaves,
while Others are so folded and fastened
together as to form long tube, very
small at the base, Bullying out in the mid.
die, then drawn in at the top, which is
open. Above there is quite wide,
veined and curved leaf, which is upright
and partially covers the pitcher. Along
the edge of that portion of the leaf
pitcher outside of the seam there are
honey drops to allure the insect to the
top where it tumbles down into the
tube, which is covered with delicate hairs
pointing downward, so that once in there
is no getting out. Some Of these plants
have clear spots at the upper end which
lets in the light.
In Borneo there are giant pitcher
plants (Npenthes). One species has
brightly colored, bottle shaped leaves
which stand upright on the ground, and
| one leaf holds about two quarts of
pure water, which is distilled from the
plant itself. Others creep along on the
ground and cling to the rocks. Their
leaves are in the form of the water TASKS
with a lid. Others are epiphtal. of
these the best and most distinct is N.
He;tchii, which bears from thirty to forty
pitchers, some of which are red, others
green blotched with red, while some are
pure green. N. Lovii in shape resem-
bles an old fashioned wine fagon; it is
epiphtal, glowing on Casuasineer trees at
an elevation 5000 to 5000 feet on Kina
Balu mountain. Not all of the pitcher
plants can be classed, however, among
the traps.
i. Bladder worts are among the insect
catchers. They grow mostly in water,
but some are epipbytal. The curious
little cups or bladders were formerly sup
posed to be useful for floating the plant,
but closer observation has shown them to
be for traps. When an insect comes in
contact with the mouth of the bladder, a
trap door suddenly opens, the victim is
drawn in and absorbed. There is a
| quantity of little four-rayed stars inside
the stomach, which are the organs Of
digestion.
The sun-dew is another of the insect
catchers. Some have long, narrow
leaves; others round ones. These sparkle
in the sunshine as though covered with
rain drops or dew. 1t is sweet, sticky
substance by which insects are caught.
Through magnifying glass the leaf will
be seen to be fringed around the edge
and covered on the upper surface with
what have been called tentacles, because
they seem like the arms of certain sea
animals, with which they capture their
prey. The leaf sags little in the mid.
die, and when an insect is glued fast by
1.-the sticky drop every tentacle begins to
curve over and fasten him more strongly.
The movement is very slow-so slow that
| it takes frequently several hours for it to
be complete. What is very remarkable
about it. if fly alights on the side of tho
leaf, or anywhere away from the centre,
the tentacle it touches bends over, car.
ing its prey with it to the centre of the
leaf, and then all of the tentacles move
toward the middle and clasp it. The
leaf then pours over it liquid acid
which dissolves what is good for food,
thus acting as it does the gastric juice in
our stomachs. One full meal will last
the plant nearly a week. 1t must have
the right kind of food, however. DR..
Darwin fed q sun-dew on cheese, which
made it turn yellow and sickly, and it
finally died with dyspepsia. When a
few drops of milk were poured on a leaf,
it curved up around the edges, making
the form more cup-like, while the tenta.
cles bent over to absorb it. Another
remarkable thing has been noted if
bit of meat is divided, half of it placed
on the leaf and the other on some moss
beside the piece on leaf will remain fresh
until digested, while that on the moss
becomes spoiled.
Venus Fly-trap is Of quite different
construction from those described. The
leaves grow out from the centre of the
plant and are in three divisions. On the
tip of each grows the trap, which is made
similar to the valves clam shell. They
are hinged at the back and edged all
around with sharp spikes. On the inner
side are three long hairs which are very
sensitive, so that the instant they are
touched the valves close, the spikes are
locked together and the insect is antrap.
ped. If the thing caught is the right
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