Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1876 — The California Pitcher Plant. [ARTICLE]

The California Pitcher Plant.

One of the most remarkable products of the vegetable world, for which this coast is famous, is the singular plant which is familiarly known by the above title, but which among botanists is better recognized as Darlingtonia Caltfarnica. It is a native of the northern portion of . the State, chiefly of the district around Mount Shasta, where it grows in boggy places on the slopes of mountains. It belongs to the natural order sawac«i»dcea, and is the only species of its genus, though several of its near relatives are found -in the swampy districts of the Atlantic States. Darlingtonia is remarkably for its habit of entrapping insects which are attracted toward the hood at the extremity of the tm bular leaves, probably by its bright color* and its resemblance to a flower. Once inside the hood, .they pass down the tube which forms the stem, and on attempting to escape find their exit prevented by a number of fine hairs pointing downward, which offer a secure meaps of imprison, ment for the unfortunsppthsects. It is not unusual to find the leaf stems at their base filled tp the depth of four or five inches with insect remains. Mr. Henry Edwards, who has recently spent some time in the region of Mount Shasta, and who has brought to San Francisco some admirable specimens of the Darlingtonia, informs us that he counted no less than thirty-six species of insects of various orders which had met their death in the embrace of this curious plant. It is somewhat singular that Darwin, in his new book on “Insectivorous Plants,” makes no mention whatever of this species, particularly as the plant has been successfully cultivated in England. Mr. Robinton. of the Field newspaper, made a journey to this country two years ago tor the express purpose of investigating it in its native wilds. The observations made by Mr. Edwards, especially those with reference to the species of insects entrapped, will at once be forwarded by that gentleman to Dr. Darwin, by whom they will probably be employed in a future edition of his book. The specimens which have given birth to these remarks have been admirably photographed by Bradley & Rulotson, and have been placed by Mr. Edwards on exhibition in the garden of the Mechanics’ Fair.— San Francieco Bulletin.