Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-09-24

but In reality . kidnaper and muir
derer, for true to its name it gets its
1ood supply by catching flies or other
insects which alight on its highly
sensitive leaves.
Like human beings plants have been
forced to develop different tastes in
food, and certain fora in the marshy
lowlands where the earth lacks neces-
sary nitrogen and sulphur have come
to find nourishment by trapping in
sects and other prey, which they
absorb by means of thick digestive
fiuid-a fluid in some cases almost
identical with animal gastric juices.
1nhabiting the moist sandy bottom
lands in the coastal region of North
Carolina, the Venus F1ytrap grows
wild over strip Of territory 10 miles
wide and 40 miles long.
The small leaves Of this queer plant
are arranged in a spreading rosette.
Each leaf consists of fiat expanded
footstalk, ending in two-valved
blade, looking very much like hinge,
the ends of which are prolonged into
bristles that interlock when the halves
close. 1t Is fascinating to watch the
Venus F1ytrap In its food gathering
process. First the leaf is baited with
honey, then as the victim reaches
down, sharp-toothed edges close upon
him. 1t Is only q matter of hours
until he is absorbed and digested.
The Venus Flytrap may be grown
from seeds or divisions of the plant,
the latter of which can be trans
planted from November to March.
They thrive best when grown in to
S inch pots, amid mixture Of @1e
silver sand and black soil, with the
pots immersed in about an inch of
water. This specimen has been known
to grow successfully in dwelling by
placing it in loose. live spaghnum
moss. in a wide, shallow dish without
any drainage, and covered over with
glass. Water was given every other
day until the dish was filled and then
poured of, SO as not to sour the soil
Occasionally Washingtonians have
an opportunity to buy Venus Flytraps
on the street, for farmers and truck
drivers from the South have been
known to arrive with truck loads of the
plants and sell them to passersby for a
small sum.
CERTAIN varieties OF the widely dis
tributed pitcher plant are others
Of the carnivorous family which are
interesting. The greenish purple leave.
of the pitcher plant forms jar OF
trumpet half filled with sweetish secre.
tons in which to drown is victims
Curved hooks and sensitive hairs
lining the sides OF the death hous.
bend down easily to permit entrance
| but forbid an exit. In the colder
pitcher of the Darlingtonia Californics
| found on the West Coast is room
enough and liquid enough to drown
not only small birds but field mice a:
we'll.
The pitcher plants are members Of
the Sarracenia family and succeed vel
under cultivation if grown in pots flllec
with fine. sandy muck They should
have bright. sunshiny southeastern
exposure, and the pots should stand If
about an inch of water. Our owr
Jack-in- the-Pulpit Is . member O.
the pitcher family.
| Few persons know that plants hav,
nerves. One in this class might b.
called a nervous wreck, judging from
its actions when anyone 50 much a!
touches one of its leaves. The sensi.
tive plant, or mimosa pudica. will i'm
mediately curl up its leaves at tn,
slightest touch. After leaf has curlet
up in apparent anguish it remains il
a fallen position for about IS min
utes. then gradually uncurls and be-
comes its normal self again. Thi
plant, originally from Brazil, grow
wild in the Gulf States and is easil,