Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27
FREAKS IN PLANTS.
Wonders That May Be Seen in the
National Botanic Garden.
FLOWERS THAT TRAP BUGS.
A New Kind OF Vegetable Whisky Shop That
Captures and Eats Frogs-Other Plants
With Carnivorous Tastes-lnsects Used A.
Scrvants-Imitativs Orchids-The Cacti
NEW SPECIES OF VEGETABLE

N S1" Or a d L. Z
"A whisky shop has been added to the col
lection Of plant curiosities at the Botanical
Garden. The liquor il distills in the pitcher
shaped receptacles that hang from its stems is
especially liked by frogs. which hop into these
traps for the purpose Of drinking it. Although
the sweetish fluid is powerful intoxicant the
batrachian customer, however wildly over
stimulated, would certainly jump ont again
were il not that two very sharp dagger-like
thorns project downwa from the lip Of the
vessel in such manner that Mr.. Frog in try
ing to escape is thrust through the body by
them at every leap until presently he falls
dead In the liquid refreshment'-an appro-
PIRATE object lesson to all Incorporate crea-
tures--whereupon the plant absorbs his sub
stance. as the ordinary whisky shop consumes
that OF its frequenter. and is thus supported.
This species is tropical and has to be kept in
the green house devoted to plants of the equa-
torial belt. Naturally there are no frogs in the
conservatory, and SO Superintendent Smith is
Obliged to feed this eccentric vegetable with
raw meat chopped fire. on which it thrivcs ex-
celently. For lack of insects likewise he sup
plies with the same artificial sustenance the
other sorts of whisky shops that find in bugs Of
various descriptions their chosen prey. They
will all eat beef. although each variety seems
to have in nature it's particular line Of Gus
toners, one capturing cockroaches another
ants, end so on. Doubtless they all could live
on any animal food, but there seems to be a
difference Of taste among the insects to the
liquors. One species will only touch the
drink served by certain representative Of this
carHivorous plant family; another selects by
preference different brew, and SO on. Thus
but one sort of bug is ordinarily found in ca ch
set of pitchers, those designed for the ac-
comm odation Of large beetles and cockroaches
belhg as big as small shoes. 1t is very curious
to cut open one of these vessels after it has be-
come withered and dead, being merely formed
at one end OF the leaf, and to find what VOL
derful collection of victims it has gathered in
and not finally digested. often numbering
many hundreds, it the prey ia small The whole
structure Of each trap is beyond measure curl
Gus, the inner surface Of some coated with
little bristles that project downward and pre-
vent the guest SO Hospitality received from
walking out again. This is particularly feat
ure OF what the superintendent calls the vege-
table lager beer saloons, which prepare liquor
OF much less Intoxicating quality i'll tall chalice-
shaped vessels instead OF pitchers. depending
upon drowning their customers, rather than
upon making them 30 drunk that they cannot
get away. deplorable thing it seems. by the
way, To find such bad habits prevalent among
bugs. the opinion having been always held
that only man. the most noble of animals had
right TO indulge in vices to the elaboration
and invention Of which he has given SO much
attention.
GOOD DEAL OF ALCOHOL.
So far can be ascertained no analysis has
ever been made of the liquors dispensed by
these vegetable gin mills. chiefly owing TO the
fact that such an experiment would involve n
very difhcuit problem IL organic chemistry. 1t
- known, however, that the strongest OF them
coiHain u large proportion Oh alcohol. Persons
hard up for stimuiants have often achieved Il
maximum of intoxication by swallowing the
contents o. few OF the pitchers. which some
times hold more than quarter Of pint each
without bUtherihg about the insects in the tuid.
Why may II not be that from this origin the
term bug juice is derived! How appropri-
ately Is such beverage adapted to the con-
vivial uses OF the tropical tramp. who. while
pursuing his leisurely travels can literally
pluck his drinks by the wayside!
A novelty at the Botanic Garden is plant
whose leaf bears remarkably well-executed
carIcature OF the Duke OF Wellington, all done
III the vening; but in the int,res, of visitors it
docs not ser. Ous!y rival either the mother in
Ia" plant, scrap Of which swells up your
tongue so that yoa cannot speak for DAYS, or
the famous butcher plant 81 Maryland. that
has. instead u; leaves. ~ many pairs Of tOothcd
jaw that close upon any insect venturinS be-
tween to get at the swe etifE bait within.
tbs butcher plant. which grows nowhere
In the world save in the vicinity Of " Wilmington
y. e.. suffers for lis carniyorous habits, being
chronic victim of Indigestion. Each stomach
trap, having used up most of the gastric Juice
which u secfetes ia dIgestiug the first living
prey caught, usually finds the second victim
IT captures disagree with it. and the third il is
unable to assimilate satisfactorily. Then the
trap turns from green to brown and dies, like
any leaf, other fresh ones developing mean
while to take up the work of gobLling. After
all this greedy Vegetable is not nearly so bad
rs the cruel plant, as 1t is called whose
howers wantonly capture unsuspeetiug but
teries that ulight to sip honey aud hold them
until they are dead Mhen he OF Ia
ruthless petals is reiinquished and the luckiess
visitor Is dropped on the ground.
1t Is astonishing what intelligence many veg
etables exhibit N.turalists have come to be
much inclined toward thinking that plant
really has thoughts. Its mind, as they con
ceive, is situated i'll the rootlet, which knows
so well always what path TO pursue through the
soil in search of water.
EMPLoYINd INSECTS As SERVANTS.
Plants even employ insects as their servants,
in the work OF reproducing their species, pay
ing them wages in honey. Moss vegetables
combine the two sexes in one flower: but
br, cding ''in and in" is more healthy for
them than il is for animals. One blossom must
marry with another if the species is to be con-
tinued in u healthy way. So young Mr.. Honey
sackle dresses hinsef in spring suit OF bright
yellow and perfumes himself deliciously for
the purpose Of attracting the gay butterflies
that iutter around. He also provides small
stOEc Vi HcCtaf III " kOiucn 10 one" uliy In
sect guest that may come his way. Presently q
butterfly pauses to take u sip Of the sweet
liquor. but in doing SO she cannot avoid get
ting some Of the pollen on her head, and this
she carries to another honeysuckle, where she
stops for a second bit Of refreshment, and in
cidentally rubs of some Of the pollen upon its
stigma. Thus il accomplished the marriage Of
the flowers.
But the bee il the cupid OF the vegetable
world. to whom il assigned most Of this marry
ing and giving in marriage among the blos-
SONS. There in one kind Of orchid that de-
ponds altogether for the continuance OF its
species upon fights among bees. 10 a moral
delinquency on their part it may be said to
owe its survival entirely. The petals Of each of
its flowers nre SO bent to form n sort Of
little tunnel, and 70 get at the honey bee
must 60 in Mt one end the other. IL moth
lug interferes it will never come in contact
with any OF the pollen, but now and then il
happens that II meets another bee which has
entered from the other eide. Then there is q
tight. and in the scrimmage the COM
batants get bounced around aud are covered
with the reproductive powder. However in
order to accomplish aaything one Of these bees
must 20 OF aud have the same sort OF fight
in another orchid blossom. 10 as TO transfer .
por ton Of the pollen to the stigma. Luckily
this occurs oftsn enough to psrpetuats the
plant.
some kinds OF orchids initiate to the life bees,
butterflies and moths, apparently for the pur.
pose Of attracting these insects on the decoy-