MAGGOT-BEARING STAPELIA. 



STAPELIA HIRSUTA. 



Dispersed over the arid* wilds of Africa, in pyramidal forms, issue the fleshy stems, desti- 

 titute of leaves, of the Hirsute Stapelia. These stems are on every side armed with hooks like 

 claws. The juices of this plant are so acrid, that the smart these occasion on the tongue will be 

 sensible a long while, and even fatal, if tasted beyond a certain proportion. Nature has well 

 marked it of the natural order, the Lurid, or poisonous, for the corolla, which is deeply cleft into 

 five segments, is of a dusky purple, and dingy yellow, and speckled like the belly of a serpent, 

 besides being fringed with hairs, which gives to this flower something of an animal appearance. 

 It has likewise so strong a scent, resembling carrion, that blow-flies in abundance hover round it; 

 and mistaking the corolla for flesh, deposit there their eggs, which are soon converted into real 

 maggots, adding to the horror of the scene, some being seen writhing among the purple hairs 

 of the flower, and others already dead for want of food, the vegetable in this rare instance de- 

 ceiving and overcoming the animal creation. The star-like appearance in the centre is the Nec- 

 tary, mingled with the five Stamina, and two Pistilla. Hence it arranges under the class Pen- 

 tandria, order Digynia, of Linnaeus. We have been favoured with the following fine poetic 

 effusion from the masterly pen of Dr. Shaw on this plant. 



'Mid the wild heights of Afric's stormy cape, 



The fell Stapelia rears her Gorgon shape; 



Spreads her rough arms, and turns, with scowling eye, 



Her bearded visage to the thund 'ring sky. 



To magic rites she bends her wayward care, 



And with unholy vapours taints the air, 



Distils with fatal art each secret bane, 



And gathers all the poisons of the plain. 



By native instinct round her drear abode 



Glides the green snake, or crawls the shapeless toad. 



Lur'd to the hag, by horrid spells subdued, 



The care-craz'd mother brings her num'rous brood, 



Hears the smooth tale, and trusts, in evil hour, 



The tender offspring to her guardian pow'r. 



The subtle fiend assumes a softer air, 



And falsely smiles, and feigns a mother s care: 



But gone the parent, 'mid the cavern's gloom 



The dire Enchantress drags them to their doom ; 



In pining atrophy to yield their breath, 



And slowly languish in the arms of death; 



Till, dried each wasted limb, each haggard eye, 



Their shrivell'd forms her hideous rites supply. 



No soft remorse her fell resolves can stay, 



Born of the rocks, as pitiless as they! 



So foul Canidia,\ with malignant joy \ 



Watch'd the slow progress of the buried boy ; 



So dire Erichtho,X fraught with spells accurst, 



Feign'd pious cares, and murder d while she nurst! 



So fierce Medea,% with relentless eye, 



And soul unmovd, beheld her children die ; 



And ruthless plung'd, by demon rage possess'd, 



The fatal dagger in each infant breast; 



SHAW. 



*S 



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* The Stapelias in our hot-houses never require to be watered. 



t Hor. Epod. 5. % Lucan. lib. 6. § Ovid. Epist xiii. 





