Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-08-09
PLANTS GETTING PERlLoUs


1t is a fact recognized by botanists
as beyond dispute that the carnivo-
rous habit among plants is more wide
spread than II was formerly supposed
to be The specialized sundews (Dro-
seras) are but the advance guard Of
a large army Of species which depend
for their existence more or less upon
absorption of animal salts through
their foliage. There is no gainsaying
the statement. recently put forward by
more than one scientist, that the ten
dency TO rely upon a carnivorous diet
is on the increase OF course, this Is
only in a line with the simplest evo-
lutionary principle. II is possible to
trace the steps by which the highest
types of species. which seize and mold
their prey, such as the Venus fly trap
(Dionaea) have been evolved from
those which merely capture their VIC
tins by the use of an adhesive fluid.
such as the fly catcher OF Portugal
(Drosophyllum). Still lower in the
scale are the plants, such as the
teasles (Dipsacus) which drown the In
sects in strange bucket-like contriv-
ances located at the base Of the
leaves. Flies which may chance to
fall into the water are Of course
drowned and the plant absorbs the nj
trogenous elements from their decay
ing bodies.
1t Is startling conception advanced
by some scientists that in ages to
come these plants may become so ad-
vanced In carnivorous tastes as to be
real menace to animal creation.
Dreadful indeed must be the sundews
and the Dionaeas to their insect vic
Tins at the present time. The unfor-
tunate fly which is captured by the
leaf Of the sundew finds itself held
down by strong arms which are able
to resist its violent struggles. The
largest Drosera on earth at the pres
ent time produces leaves which. are
perhaps nine inches In length. Mag
nifty this plant until the leaves are
ten feet In length. and we have an
exceedingly formidable plant. Many
of the palms and other tropical spe-
cies have foliage which is much in
excess Of this measurement, so that
the idea Of leaves as big as this is
not altogether fantastic. To be pro-
portionate. the tentacles could scarce
ly be less than ten inches in length.
and these would be able to grapple
with birds Of considerable size We
may conceive that the giant sundew
would be able to hold out some spe-
cial Indictment for its intended vic
tins to visit the leaves. Probably
the bait would be in the form OF some
sweet-tasting secretion. On alighting,
the birds would probably not find the
adhesive fluid which the leaves would
produce more than slightly annoying.
The movements which they would
make in an endeavor to free them
selves. would be all-sufiicient to give
the stimulus to the sensitive tentacles.
These would rapidly close In on their
prey. and In a few moments escape
would be out of the question. Finally,
the unfortunate birds would perish
miserably, the bodies in their decay
yielding to the plant the heterogeneous
matter desired.
The butterworts are at the present
time innooent-iooking plants rather at
tractive In appearance. These species,
as is well known. find their home In
DOGGY tracts. where they spread their
foliage on the surface Of the ground
In the form of rosette. II the leaves
Of the butterwort are closely exam
ined. 1t will be seen that they are