The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-10-01
Insect Eating Plants.

Plants really are living beings, the
same as animals, and, like the latter,
they are obliged to absorb nourish.
ment to develop them and to remain
alive. But since they cannot, as do
the beings of superior species, go in
search CT this nouEishmens, most VI
them depend on their leaves to draw
moisture from the air and their roots
to absorb food from the earth.
Some, however, DO not content
themselves with the food obte;ned in
this way from the ear.L and air.
They vary their diet with little ami
NAL food. The most remarkable of
these carniyorous or animal. eating
plants is the Venus fly trap, which is
common in North Carolina. All it's
leaves radiate from the root and from
q spread-out rosette. A strong vein
extends from the base to the summit,
and their edges are furnished with
stiff, spiny hairs.
Each half of the leaf presents
slightly concave surface, strewn with
glands. These glands distill liquor
which attracts insects. The, stiff
hairs on the edges are placed in such
a manner that the insect which hovers
near the leaf is almost certain before
long to touch one Of the hairs. And,
as these are endowed with great ir-.
ritability, when they are touched the
two lobes ofthe leaf close quickly,
one shutting against the other, and
they interlaoe their spiny leshes so
firmly that the prey which they have
seized cannot escape. So long as the
insect struggles, the leaves remain
closed. AS soon as it ceases to move
the lobes open lightly. The leaf Sc
oretes digestive juice similar to the
gastric juice of the human stomach,
and the prey is slowly dissolved and
absorbed.
In France there is plant found
frequently in ,narshy places which is
named the Rossolis. 1t has the same
properties as the Venus. It's leaves
are covered with thick hairs, the trans
parent glands of which resemble small
drops of dew. They close up if an in
sect touches them, out if bit Of min
eral substance is placed on them neith-
er the leaves nor hairs make move
ment. 1t is only when an insect
touches them that they close up.
:. Another plant. the darlingtonia,
feeds on insects, but in different
way. It's leaves form species Of urn,
which ordinarily holds some water.
Cn the inside there is also some hon.
ey, which attracts the insects. These
unhappy animals slip at the, smooth
incline, fall to the bottom and cannot
get up again, for there are sharp hairs
that are directed from the top toward
the bottom to prevent them.
Little by little the plant absorbs
them, just as does the Venus. But
it has an advantage over the latter. It
can save its food if it does not wish to
eat at once. It's urn is larder, in
which it can heap it's provisions up,
forming bountiful reserve on which
it may draw when it is hungry. If
the provision is too abundant for its
consumption the dead insects give
birth to great quantity of larvae,
which grow and develop quickly in
this leafy medium and offer for the
appetite of the greedy darlington;s
choice food--tender. fresh and re-
newed.
Another plant is the serpentaire,
whose largefunnel-shaped flower ex-
hales an insupportable deadly odur.
whiohsattraots flies from o distance.
They precipitate themselves to the
bottom ofthe tube Of the flower which
secretes the sickeDing juice and die
there. Then the serpenteire, like the
Venus, absorbs and devours them.
Enr0ueatrcd &