Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1875 — Insect-Catching Plants. [ARTICLE]

Insect-Catching Plants.

The interesting facts lately ascertained with respect to the habits of in-sect-eatihg plants have induced among naturalists a closer examination of kindred tendencies wherein their existence has been hinted in the construction or the circumstances of any species of the vegetable kingdom. At the December meeting of the St. Louis Academy, Prof. Riley, State Entomologist, exhibited some flowers of the Physianthus a species of the Asdepidacece or milkweeds, which had captured a number of sphinx-moths (Dielephila lineata) by their tongues. In this plant, as ifi many of the Asclepidaceas, the stigma is curiously reflexed and cleft. Thus when insects thrust their tongues into the flowers in search of honey it often happens that the intruding member penetrates one of these clefts, and its owner finds it im ; possible to draw it out again. In short, he is caught in a trap, and must depart leaving his tongue, that essential organ of his existence, behind him or stay with it and perish. Either way it seems death to the hapless prisoner. In a large number of cases Mr. Riley found that insects chose to wrench themselves away, leaving the tips of their tongues laden with their spoil of pollen in the miserable jaws or clefts of the stigmas. These torn and broken limbs remaining in the teeth of the flowers furnish quite as convincing evidence of their murderous intentions as Would the presence of the entire bodies of their captives. The question now remaining for naturalists to solve is, How do the inseets caught by the Asclepidaceas, or milk-weeds, inure to the benefits of the plants? In Europe it has been discovered that the common oleander catches inseets in the same manner. What purpose in the economy of the plant do these captures serve? That is the query next in order. — Chicago Tribune. —A very good-looking young lady entered the Central Station yesterday, and. walking up to the Sergeant, she said: “ I want a policeman.” As soon ashe could recover from his surprise be said l : “ Well, there are five widowers and seven young men left—have you any choice?” She was very indignant as she explained that she wanted an officer to gp and help take care of an insane woman. — Detroit Free Press. . “ Give us,” says the New Hampshire Workingman's Advocate, “the man with brown hands, smut on his nose and sweat on his forehead.” All right—sent him last night; also a woman with a long chin and a wart on her nose to keep him happy.— Detroit Free Press.