A CUIUOUS PLANT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1544, 28 April 1887, Page 3

A CUIUOUS PLANT

» We find the following m a Wellington paper :— Sonve weeks ago, Mr John Tinline, the well known southern ran-holder, observed m the Upper Wanganui district a flomewhafc peculiar plant. It was about three feet m hbighr, and covered with whits flowers, m the cap 3of which large numbers of moths were struggling. Un Investigation it appeared that the fltwers were regular insect traps, almost every one of them having a moth firmly held m its grip. Mr Tinline beoame bo rauoh interested m the botanioal curiosity that he plucked a number of the moth-oontainfng blooma and brought them to Wellington. He has since deposited them at the Colonial Mnseum, m order that Dr Hector and Mr Meskell might pursue a course of enquiry which might possibly prove of advantage to the colony. Thesa gentlemen have opened correspondence with persona who are familiar with the habits of the plant, whioh fs a n^lve of the Cape Colony, whence the seeds which propagated the Wanganui growth were brought. It is considered possible that the flowers may, If cultivated, prove useful In aßsißting to deal with thn corlHr, moth pest.