The state herald., 1890-01-17
"a BLOOD-SUCKING PLANT.
Etrange Vegetable Growth Found in Gem
tral American Ewamp,.
IT. Tendrils Instantly Enfield Human or Ami.
NAL Hlssh When Touched and Draw B! ID
st Every Point Of contaet-..A Most Re
markab!s Experience.

Leroy Dunstnn. tho we'll known mt
uralist OF Philadelphia. who has re.
Gently returned from Central America.
where he had spent nearly two years
In the study Of the fora and fauna of
that country, relates to a Times report
or the finding Of n singular growth In
one OF the swumps which surround tho
lake OF Nicaragua. He was engaged
in hunting for botanical and entom O.
logical specimens In this swamp. which
is k nown as San Sebastian's. when he
heard his dog cry out as ii in agony
from distance. Running to the spot
from which the animals cries came,
Mr.. Dustan found him enveloped In u
perfect network OF what seemed to be
fine, ropelike tissue OF roots or iibrcs,
the nature OF which was unknown 70
him.
The plant or vine seemed composed
entirely OF bare interlaclng stems, re-
sembling more than anything else the
branches OF the weeping willow denud-
ed or its foliage. but of dark nearly
black hue and covered with thick,
viscid gum that exuded from the
pores. Drawing his knife Mr.. Dun.
stan endeavored to cut the animal free
but 1t was only with the greatest diff
Guilty that he succeeded in severing the
feshy, muscular fibre. 10 his horror
and amazement the naturalist then saw
thut the dogs body was covered with
blood. whilo his hairless skin appeared
to have been actually sucked or puck
cred In spots and the animal sta.gcr-
cd as II from weakness and exhaus-
ton.
In cutting the vino tho twigs
curled like living. sinuous fingers
about Mr., Dunstan's hand and it re-
quired no slight force to free the mem.
ber from its clinging clasp. which left
the flesh rcd and blistered. The gum
exuding from tho vine WIS OF grayish
dark tinge. remarkably adhesive and OF
disagreeable animal odor. very pow
erful and nauseating TO inhale.
The native servants who accompa-
MED Mr.. Duns,an manifested tho
greatest horror OF the vine which they
call ''la sagenas de diable," the DEVILS
seine. or snare. and were full OF stories
OF its death-dcaling powers. One OF
these stories was OF nn Englishmnn
residing in Managua, who, while hunt
ing in the swamp few years before,
lay down beneath tree where large
and powerful specimen OF this singular
plant was growing and inadvertently
falling asleep awoke to find himself
envelopcd In its web. and in spite OF
every effort made to extricate him, per.
ished In its deadly embrace.
Another story was of an escaped
convict who had hidden in the swamp
and whose bones had been found in the
folds Of the sagenas only short time
before MIR. Dunstan's visit These
stories. remarkable rs they may seem.
are firmly believed in by the people.
but the only three specimens which
Mr.. Dunstan was able to find were
all small ones though the mcshes OF
tho largest would probably. II extend
cd In straight line. measure nearly.
II not quite. 100 feet lie was able to
discover very little about the nature OF
the plant owing to the difficulty OF exam.
lining II. for its grasp can only be torn
away with loss OF skin and even OF flesh.
but.ns near rs Mr.. Dustan could ascer.
tain. its power OF suction is contained in
n number OF infnitesimnl mouths or lit
tie suckers, which ordinarily closed.
open for the reception OF food.