Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1877 — Pitcher-Plants. [ARTICLE]

Pitcher-Plants.

It is known to botanists that the tubular leaves of the Pitcher-Plants (Saraceniae), whichbelong to the class of so-called insectiverous plants, exude at their mouth a sweet secietion, for the apparent purpose of inviting the visits of insects. It has been asserted by some writers that this secretion possesses intoxicating qualities, causing the insects which partake of it to become thereby easier victims -of the death by drowning which awaits their fall into the liquid held in the interior of the cup-like leaves. Dr. J. H. Mellichamp, of Bluffton, N. C., communicates to the American Naturali»t the proceedings of a series of experiments which seem to prove that the secretion has no stupefying or intoxicating property. Dr. Mellichamp procured, on three separate days, a number of fresh leaves of the Saracenia variolar it, which were secreting freely ;t lit them open, and laid them on a newspaper—thus exposing the honeyed substance, “ which was very abundant and glistening, sweet to the taste and viscid to the touch.” Many housefles were immediately attracted, and their movements watched for the space of an hour. During that time some of the flies fed for at least ten minutes, but not one evinced any signs of being unpleasantly affected. All flew away in evident possession of unimpaired faculties. As the result of these repeated experiments, Dr. Mellichamp concludes that the secretion is entirely harmless. Two* bottles containing liquid taken from the cups of the Saracenia have been sent by Dr. Mellichamp to the Botanical Laboratory at Cambridge, for analysis. The experiments thus far tried confirm the following observations of Dr. Mellichamp: “Pourout a tcaspoonful or two of the fluid in ta ounce measure, or a small wine-glass. Throw in a fly, so that his wings will be wet or slimed. He will in a few minutes cease to struggle, and will appear as if dead. Take him out after awhile, and let him dry, and in about half an hour he will revive.” This experiment shows that the liquid secreted in the leaves of the Saracenia in some way stupefies the insects immersed in it, paralyzing their efforts for escape. The fluid taken from still unopened leaves was turbid, tasteless, and slightly acid in reaction.— Chicago Tribune. Lawyers should sleep well. Itisim* material on which side they lie