The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-05-29

Intoxioate Their Victims With a
Mysterious Secretion.
Belief that They Digest and AS
simulate Insects

certain plants entrap, eat and digest
insect food, yet this certainly seems 20
be the case in many instances We
read wonderful accounts Of this Curl
GUS property in strange plants Of
foreign countries, but you may be
surprised 10 learn that We hayo a very
interesting insect eater in our own
country, the sarracenia. Even If we
are inclined TO doubt the statement
that tho plants really digest and as-
simulate the insects that they catch
aud kill, their method Of entrapping
them makes them worthy Of careful
study.
The sarracenia is more commonly
known as sidesaddle flower, American
pitcher plant, huntsman's cup, etc.
These plants are common throughout |
the New England states, and are |
found in great numbers in buggy To-
calities. Their leaves are folded
spirally, in the manner OF the pitcher
! plant
Clark in his travels discovered many
curious sorts of these insect-catching
plants, and deep in the tamarack
swamp hundreds we're found They
were clustered about the foot Of each
tree, and thickly covered with the
carpet Of shagnum moss for yards
around. 1t was very late in May when
these we're studied aud the blooming
season was at its height. From every
plant rose several of the graceful
flower stalks, varying from one foot to
foot and half in height each stalk
bearing one of the large, nodding,
purplish green flowers
From the tangled roots, buried just
under the moss, spring the numerous
dark green aud notified insect entrap~
ping leaves, all clustered, rosette-like,
, about the central flower stalk, and
, often numbering fifty to a plant The
art of each leaf that answers to the
: petiole is greatly developed, tapering
a pitcher-shaped and along its upper face
it bears a broad, erect wing. Sur
0 mounting the followed petiole, and
< forming the spout OF the pitcher, is
the clip" the reduced and modified
!. blade of the leaf.
It The inner surface of the lip, as well
J. as the lower part of the pitcher, if
!. covered with long stiff hairs, project
W ing downward and inward. The upper
4 part # the inner surface of the pitch
r. err is smoother and more slippery thai
70 glass, and Of such chemical nature tina
( the feet of the insects wall not stick t
IN it. Very often there are nectar Sc
ID creting glands along the pitchers rim
Mt and at its mouth. The dews and raj
lis and frequent washing up Of the swan
CHI water by the wind all serve to kee
these pitchers at least half full o
- water.
:. Insects are enticed into the leave
h. either by the honey glands or b
- thirst, or they enter in search of she
= ter The hairs on the lip readil
= permit the insect to crawl downward
=. but on its attempting to crawl u
"a again they confront it like a phalan
.oa of spears and effectually force it bac
- When within the pitcher its feet cal
= not cling to the slippery surface, nj
+. down it inevitably goes to a W
"a terry grave, the hairsin the lower pa
-, of the pitcher forcing it towards t
,ds bottom.
= Whether or not digestive fluid
a secreted by the pitcher, which mingl
10 with the water, has been a questi
- among botanists. No chemical t.
has ever positively shown it, but
fact that the decomposition OF the
sect bodies is very much more rar
tho than in pure water strongly suppo
nv the belief that some digestive eleme
is secreted, for it is we'll known Il
anv the presence of quantity much t
small for detection by most chemi
- q tests would be sufficient to cause VI
too decided digestive action. The nu
,oro tious solution is absorbed and ASST
lated by the leaf, and the plant thri
,oro upon this animal diet. Great numb
= - of decomposing insects are usu'
ga found in the bottom of each pitche
a