Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-02-12
THE v4MPIRE OF PLANTS.
Mr.. Dunstan's Remarkable story of a
BIood-sucking Vine.

Blood-sucKing Vine.
Leroy Dunstan, the well-known nat
uralist of New Orleans, who has re-
Gently returned from Central America,
where he had spent nearly two years IN
the study of the flora and fauna Of the
country, relates the finding Of asinguiar
growth in one of the swamps about the
great lake of Nicaraugua.
He was engaged in hunting for botan-
ical and chronological specimens in this
swamp, which is known as san Sebas-
tian's, when he heard his dog cry out as
if in agony from a distance. Running
to the spot from which the animals cries
came. Mr.. Dunstan found him enveloped
in perfect network Of what seemed TO
be fine rope-like tissue of roots or tibres,
the nature of which was unknown to
him.
The plant or vine seemed composed
entirely of bare, interlacing stems, re-
sembliny more than anything else the
branches of the weeping willow denuded
of all foliage, but of dark, nearly black
hue. and covered with a thick, viscld
gum llldl IoiS'. DAN"
ing his knife, Mr.. Dunstan endeavored
to cut the animal free, but it was only
with the greatest difficulty that he sue
ceeded in severing the fleshy, muscular
fibre. To his horror and amazement the
naturalist then saw that the dogs body
was covered with blood, while his hair
less skin appeared to have been actually
sucked or pricked in spots, and the ami
NAL staggered as if from weakness and
exhaustion.
In cutting the vine the twigs curled
like living, sinuous fingers about MIR.
Dunstans hand, and it required no slight
force to free the member from its cling
ing clasp which left the flesh red and
blistered The gum exuding from the
vine was of grayish dark tinge, re-
markably adhesive and of disagreeable
animal odor, very powerful and nauseat-
ing to inhale.
The native servants who accompanied
MIR. Dunstan manifested the greatest
horror of the vine, which they call la sa-
genas de diable. the devils seine, or
snare. and were full of stories of Its death
dealing powers.
One of these stories was of an Eng
lishinan residing in Managua, who, while
hunting in the swamp few years ago,
lay down beneath tree where large
and powerful specimen of this singular
plant was growing. and. inadvertently
falling asleep, awoke to find himself en-
veloped in its web. and, in spite of every
effort made to eXtricate him, perlshed IN
its deathly embrace.
Another story was of an escaped con-
vict who had hidden in the swamp, whose
bones had been found in the folds of the
sagenas only a short time before Mr. Dun
stan's visit The stories, remarkable as
they seem. are firmly believed in by the
people but ths Ouly tiiree specimens
which Mr.. Dunstan was able to find were
all small ones, though the meshes of the
largest would probably. if extended in
straight line, measure nearly, If not
quite. 100 feet. He was able TO discover
very lille about the nature of the plant
owing to the difficulty of handling it,
for its grasp can only be torn away with
loss of skin aud even of flesh but, so
near as Mr.. Duns,an could ascertain, its
power of suction is contained in num-
Der of infnitessimal almouths orl little suck
ers, which, ordinarily closed, open for
the reception of food.
The gum exuded seems to serve the
twof Id purpose Of increasing its tenac-
ity and of grooming a victim by its
sickeuing odor. The plant is found only
in low. wet places, and usually beneath
n large tree. and while dormant seems
only a network Of dry, dead vines COW
ering the black earth for several feet but
coming into contact with anything viii
Instantly begin TO twist and twine up-
ward in a horrible. lifelike manner.
breaking out with the gum-like substance
spoken Of before, and enwrap the object
with celebrity almost incredible.
II the substance Is animal the blood Is
drawn of and the carcass or rcfuae then
dropped. a lump of raw meat being
thrown IL. in the short time Of five min-
utes the blood will b. thoroughly drunk
ofT and the mas. thrown aside. lts vo-
racity D., almost beyond belief. it dcvour-
ing at one time over ten pounds Il
meat though it may bo deprived of all
food Tor weeks without any apparent luss
al vitality Mr. Dunsian attempted %
lring away a root of thc sagenas. bat 70
diel during his return voyage, growing
ing -o foul with strong odor ~ real
animal corruption that be was obliged 10
-ci rid Of b.