PLANTS THAT EAT MEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1924, Page 3

PLANTS THAT EAT MEAT

(Iv.v Rogers. E'.R.ILS.. in London paper.) All carnivorous plants arc endowed with a sense of taste, and they arc most particular in their choice of food, for it would lie useless to give a llesltoating plant a lump of sugar, hut. on the other hand, a tasty morsel of meat would he .speedily devoured ! The best known of our English epicureans is the common sundew, which can always he found in boggy places. This voracious plant often captures dragon-llies and

ants, for. attracted by the gummy appearance of the rosy leaves, the feet of the luckless victims become securely fixed to the gum and the red glandular tentacles rinse in on the unwary insect*. which are swiftly devoured. The Initterwort. which grows side by side with the sundew, also ensnares anil oats insects, for the sticky leaves iif this plant also exude a resinous substance. which curls over the prey a*:d holds it captive.

The Yen ns tty-trap grip* its tasty diet by means of fringing hairs that

interlock. The curious leave.; stand almost erect- mnl their lobes look like a ludfopenod hook. and you can set* an unwary hectic stumbling over them until all at once In* is lost to view, lor the lobes close up. dropping the unfortunate beetle into the cleverly constructed trap. Insectivoiiriius plants, such as the American side-saddle plant. ,*<*t water traps for their victims. The side-saddle fraternity hold up their coloured vase-like leaves to the -iiulight. around the months of which arc glands that secrete honey. Lured by the scent of their ni'ctar. the insects make their way across the leaves, which arc beautifully streaked with purple, green, and red. to the mouth iff the plant farther and farther down the tube they stray, seeking for the honey for which they crave.

Detentive hairs prevent them from ever returning to the air and sunlight, and weary and exhausted they eventually fall into tin* pit'll secreted at tic* lin-e of the leaf.

The Darlingtonia. which i* a native of California. i> similarly constructed, and tin* acid stored in its internal glands drown* and dcconipo-es bith bird* ami insects.

The hlaildenvon that abounds on our weed-strewn |omls Ini* little pearshaped heads hanging from its branching. thrt'udlikc root*, and the-e allow

minute i-rcaltires to pa** in. hut they have not exit*, emergency or ollierwi'i.* mill the dead carcase.* help to sii-taili the plant in good health. All i ties** ji'aiit* are • quipped to capture ami eat small living and creeping animals in order that tin* neres-iil y

substance mav h** adde.l to I heir li* sue* which tin* soil lacks.