Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-27
MATCHMAKING PLANTS.
They Grow In Nenezucia-Thc smith
souian 10 Have One.
New York SUM-

(New York SUM-
In n day or two the Smithsonian In
stitution In Washington will receive what
fits donor believes TO be the most
remarkable specimen Of plant life, or
OF plant and insect life, in existence.
This specimen is. to all appearances an
insect bearing plant 1t comes from
Venezuela and the natives there say
that il Is not uncommon. SO far as is
known, none of the plants have been
brought here before. Unfortunately
both plant and insect are dead, but they
are well preserved. having been carefully
packed for transportation. The speci-
men was brought UP here by Captain
Chambers. of the Red ID Line steam
ship Philadelphia, and 1t will be sent on
to Washington.
G. Il. Mcmillan, superintendent of the
Venezuelan Great Western railroad, IS
tho man who sends this gift TO the
Smithsonian. When Captain Chambers
cav him on this trip TO Venezuela. he
said TO the captain:
eve got something that / want you 10
take 10 the Smithsonian i4su'u'ioh III
"what Is it?" asked the Captain, who
has had other experiences or ms sort
"A three-tailed monkey or converse
tlonal parrot? VIII you warrant II not
10 b!teY' .,.,-s.,,
81 will" Mr.. Mcmillan said. It's dead
It's a bug growing upon plant.
Thereupon Captain Chambers broke INTO
derisivo mirth and asked his friend If he
lhe Captain) looked particularly simple.
IAN right" retorted the superintendent
await TIL you see It, I've been nearing
about this thing from the natives Tor
some years. and have always Dgarded II
as a fairy tale but having found and PICK
ed the plant myself I've had to change
nv mind. / ten you this Is the most won
derful thing in the plant line that ever
He produced the plant. which was dead
and dried for Captain Chambers eNaml-
nation. The Captain said that ne would
he very glad 20 bring IL here and forward
II 10 Washington. Thus II became part oil
b,s personal cargo This Captain Cham
hers told a reporter in his cabin yester-
day. rs. -. 49,, -
satd $50 l will show you the thing ana
let YOU judge for yourself.
IYndoing a small cardboard box, packed
win bran ne carefully took out the cN-
hibit. II appeared 10 he Just what ne n9d
said There was dead stem about six
or seven inches long, with little branch,
and a small bunch of roots. ON the end
OF the main stem. was perfect insect an
inch long-body legs. head, and eyes COM
piete. Plant and insect were Joined al the
middle of the insects head. The brittle
shell OF the head had not been pierced by
the stem, and The insect seemed TO nave
been growing there as naturally as a
flower
Chambers ITS plain combination OF
plant life and insect life. All that l know
about the thing Is what Mr.. Mcmillan
told me- lie found IL in the woods at New
Site Tucacas. Venezuela. about forty miles
from Porto Cabello. The plant, he says, Is
q wild wood flower growing 10 a height
OF a foot. 1t bears from TWO TO four flow
ers OF blue color and in shape much
Ike the bowl OF "A clay pipe. but a little
larger. As tho flower expands the insect
which is the fruit or the plant. begins 10
form. and with the falling OF the petals
II full grown. II puts forth wings, sepa-
rates from It's parent stem. and flies away !;
but first II leaves a seed which falls TO
the ground and produces another plant
The full-hedged insect is somewhat bigger
than humble bee. with gauzy wings, and
boltla-blue body, except near the head
where there Is broad band Of pale-yel-