CARNIVOROUS PLANTS.^" 



BY PEOFESSOK ^^'. J. BEAL. 



This is a new term which has been lately applied to plants that catch insects 

 by various contrivances. 



In 17G8, over 100 years ago, Mr. Ellis discovered that the Venus' fly trap of 

 North Carolina catches insects by a peculiar construction of the tips of its 

 leaves, some like a steel trap. Numerous experiments have satisfied most bot- 

 anists that flies are not only caught, but digested by a fluid poured out by the 

 plant, aud the materials absorbed iuto the tissues of tlie plant- 

 In 1780, 95 years ago, the sun dew (Drosera) was found to catch insects by 

 its sensitive hairs, with a sticky gland at the end of each. Drosera rotundifoUa, 

 a common little plant of our marshes, has a round leaf about the size of a cent, 

 and sometimes catches as many a-, eighteen small flies. Tlie glandular hairs 

 move towards the fly wlien irritated. Drosera lonrjifolia has a very long slender 

 leaf also covered with glaiidiilar hairs. It rapidly coils up from the tip, catch- 

 ing flies, which it devours and aljsorbs. 



North America has eight species of pitcher plants, the leaves of which catch 

 insects. They have stiff hairs inside pointing downward, which preveut the 

 escape of most iusects. Some have a sweet secretion below the opening at the 

 top on the outside. This grows sweeter and more abundant till it comes to the 

 opening to entice foolish flies to the fatal pit, whence flies are not likely to return. 



Oatosby, some years ago, tliought these pitchers were an asylum for insects to 

 escape from frogs and other animals. 



I have here some fresh specimens of Sarracernid imrpurea, the only pitcher 

 plant found in our State. Pouchet, in his popular book, "^The Universe," 

 speaking of this plant says : ' •' The leaves rise from spot to spot at the feet of the 

 traveler, and are filled Avith pure and delicious v\'ater. for the benefit of which 

 he is all the more grateful, that he is encircled by nothing but marshes." This 

 is the fancy. The truth is tlie water abounds in rotten bugs and worms. 



There are some thirty species of Xcpenthes, most of which secrete honey on 

 some parts of their pitchers, to entice insects, Avhicli they catch and devour. 



The spathe of Alocasia catches slugs and destroys them in a strong secretion. 



For a full account of the above interesting plants, see Dr. J. W. Hooker's 

 inaugural address last year, at the British Association, printed in Nature, Vol. 

 10, p. 3G6. 



Pinguicola catches insects. 



*This is a paper read in Detroit, at a meeting of tlie Association for tlie advancement of Science, 

 held August, 1875. 



