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LEAFLET 23
F I E L D M U S E U M O F N A T U R A L HISTORY
CHICAGO
1939
T h e B o t a n i c a l Leaflets of Field M u s e u m are designed to g i v e
brief, n o n - t e c h n i c a l a c c o u n t s of v a r i o u s features of p l a n t life, especially
w i t h reference to t h e b o t a n i c a l e x h i b i t s in Field M u s e u m , and of t h e
local flora of t h e C h i c a g o region.
LIST OF BOTANICAL L E A F L E T S I S S U E D TO D A T E
CHICAGO, U. S. A.
F I E L D M U S E U M OF NATURAL HISTORY
DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
CHICAGO, 1939
LEAFLET NUMBER 23
COPYRIGHT 1 9 3 9 B Y F I E L D M U S E U M O F N A T U R A L HISTORY
CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
AND "THE MAN-EATING T R E E "
T h e h a b i t of c a p t u r i n g p r e y a n d of digesting animal
tissue for food, is so c o m m o n l y held to be a special a t t r i b u t e
of p r e d a t o r y animals t h a t it seems paradoxical to speak
of c a r n i v o r o u s p l a n t s . T h e r e exist, however, a n u m b e r of
f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s t h a t n o t only c a p t u r e small animals, b y
passive or a c t i v e m e a n s , b u t h a v e t h e power of digesting
and assimilating t h e organic food t h u s o b t a i n e d . As to
relationships, these p l a n t s do n o t c o n s t i t u t e a single g r o u p
b u t belong t o various, i n p a r t u n r e l a t e d , p l a n t families,
a n d t h u s exhibit several k i n d s of s t r u c t u r a l provision for
c a p t u r i n g prey. T h i s p r e y ' generally consists of small
insects, b u t in some instances of o t h e r small a n i m a l s —
m i n u t e freshwater Crustacea, isopods, w o r m s a n d v a r i o u s
a q u a t i c l a r v a e , a n d , it is said, even small v e r t e b r a t e s —
c a p t u r e d either like flies on sticky fly paper, or by a t r a p
m e c h a n i s m , or by drowning.
> One of t h e minor t y p e s , t h e c o m m o n b u t t e r w o r t
(Pinguicula vulgaris), h a s a r o s e t t e of several small
oblong leaves, a b o u t an inch a n d a half long, with a v e r y
short stalk. W h e n fully grown t h e leaves lie closely
pressed to t h e soil, usually with n u m e r o u s flies a n d insects
a d h e r i n g t o t h e u p p e r surface. D a r w i n describes t h e
leaves as h a v i n g t w o k i n d s of glands which secrete a color-
less viscous fluid, so sticky t h a t it m a y be d r a w n o u t in
long t h r e a d s . T h e m a r g i n s of t h e leaves c u r v e inward,
a p p a r e n t l y to hold this s u b s t a n c e which becomes so pro-
1
2 FIELD M U S E U M OP N A T U R A L HISTORY
being t r u e a c c o u n t s of a c t u a l observations. T h e i r a u t h o r s
are a p t to grow irascible w h e n a p p r o a c h e d for further
information a n d it is to be n o t e d t h a t t h e scene is
always laid in some indefinite place in a far-off c o u n t r y ,
difficult of access a n d u n i n v i t i n g to visitors.
Fifty y e a r s ago " t h e m a n - e a t i n g t r e e " w a s generally
ascribed to C e n t r a l America. N o w , since t h a t p a r t of
the world h a s become easily accessible a n d too well-
k n o w n to serve as a hiding place, its h a b i t a t h a s shifted
to more remote Madagascar or Mozambique.
Some of t h e v a r i o u s a c c o u n t s t h a t follow a r e q u o t e d
j u s t as t h e y a p p e a r e d in p r i n t .
A FLESH-EATING VINE
M r . D u n s t a n , a n a t u r a l i s t , relates t h a t while, botaniz-
ing in t h e s w a m p s of N i c a r a g u a h u n t i n g for specimens,
1
Skinner, Charles M . , M y t h s a n d L e g e n d s of F l o w e r s , T r e e s ,
F r u i t s , and P l a n t s .
CARNIVOROUS PLANTS AND "THE MAN-EATING TREE" 9
THE SNAKE-TREE
T h e " S n a k e - t r e e " is described in a n e w s p a p e r p a r a -
g r a p h as found on an o u t l y i n g s p u r of t h e Sierra M a d r e ,
in Mexico. It h a s sensitive b r a n c h e s of a slimy, s n a k y
a p p e a r a n c e , a n d when a bird alights on t h e m incautiously,
it is seized, d r a w n down in t h e tree a n d lost to sight.
Soon after it falls, flattened out, to t h e ground, where
bones a n d feathers, no d o u b t of former c a p t u r e s cover
t h e e a r t h . A n a d v e n t u r o u s traveler h a v i n g t o u c h e d one
of t h e b r a n c h e s of t h e t r e e tells h o w it closed up on his
h a n d w i t h such force t h a t it t o r e t h e skin when he wrenched
i t a w a y . H e t h e n fed t h e tree with chickens, a n d t h e tree
absorbed their blood by m e a n s of suckers with which its
b r a n c h e s were covered, v e r y m u c h like those of t h e o c t o p u s .
10 FIELD M U S E U M OF N A T U R A L HISTORY
"MONKEY-TRAP TREE"
A recent r e p o r t is credited to a Brazilian explorer n a m e d
M a r i a n o da Silva w h o r e t u r n e d from an expedition which
led h i m i n t o a district of Brazil t h a t b o r d e r s on G u i a n a .
He had there sought out the settlement of Y a t a p u Indians.
D u r i n g his j o u r n e y he saw a t r e e which nourishes itself
on animals. T h e t r u n k of t h e t r e e h a s a d i a m e t e r of a b o u t
90 c e n t i m e t r e s a n d is a b o u t six to seven m e t e r s high.
A r o u n d t h e lower p a r t a r e found leaves which a r e 0.9 by
20 c e n t i m e t r e s large a n d t h e t h i c k n e s s of t h e t h u m b .
T h e t r e e itself exudes a peculiar s h a r p odor which a t t r a c t s
animals, especially m o n k e y s . As soon as t h e y climb t h e
t r u n k , all is up w i t h t h e m , for v e r y quickly t h e y a r e com-
pletely closed in by t h e leaves, a n d o n e n e i t h e r hears nor
sees t h e m again. After a b o u t t h r e e d a y s t h e leaves open
a n d let d r o p t o t h e e a r t h t h e bones, completely stripped.
F i v e y e a r s later in t h e s a m e p a p e r t h e r e a p p e a r e d a
similar s t o r y . T h i s t i m e it w a s a Mississippian, W. C.
B r y a n t , a p l a n t e r , w h o w a s d e t e r m i n e d to use a piece of
land t h a t w a s " t a b o o e d " to everyone, on t h e island of
M i n d a n a o in t h e Philippines. T a k i n g no heed of w a r n -
ings, he s t a r t e d o u t w i t h four w h i t e m e n a n d a g r o u p of
n a t i v e s w h o h a d been deceived a s t o their d e s t i n a t i o n .
M o s t of t h e n a t i v e s finally h a d to be left b e h i n d at c a m p ,
as t h e y refused to go i n t o t h e forbidden territory, except
a n old m a n n a m e d Leon a n d some carriers.
" M o u n t a i n s b e g a n t o rise, a n d w i t h t h e m m o u n t e d t h e
old guide's w a r n i n g s a b o u t 'diabolos,' 'demonios,' ' k o t r a s , '
a n d o t h e r inventions of a superstitious m i n d lurking j u s t
ahead. T h e following d a y h e b e g a n hugging B r y a n t ' s
knees a n d weeping on t h e m , a n d r e p e a t e d t h i s gesture so
often t h a t i t i m p e d e d progress until K i n g picked u p t h e
old fellow like a child a n d carried h i m half a mile. T h e n
t h e m e e t i n g c a m e to a h e a d a n d t h e w h i t e m e n won
because, scared as t h e n a t i v e s were to go on w h e r e t h e
'diabolos' were thicker, t h e y were even less willing to go
1
W i l l i a m , B . H . , A m e r i c a n W e e k l y , S e p t . 26, 1920.
A. (Nepenthes distillatoria), s k e t c h of an entire p l a n t g r e a t l y
reduced.
B . F o l i a g e o f N e p e n t h e s s h o w i n g tendril w i t h t h e p i t c h e r a t t h e
tip, about one quarter natural size.
C . P o r t i o n o f f l o w e r s p i k e , a b o u t o n e third natural size.
An A u s t r a l i a n p i t c h e r - p l a n t (Cephalotus follicularis), one half
natural size (after V o n M a r i l a u n ) .
CARNIVOROUS PLANTS AND "THE MAN-EATING TREE" 15
b a c k alone w i t h o u t t h e protection of t h e w h i t e m e n a n d
their g u n s .
" L i k e m e n c o u n t i n g themselves a l r e a d y dead, t h e
M o r o s plodded along into t h e foot-hills of t h e m o u n t a i n s .
N o o n of t h e n e x t d a y found t h e p a r t y p r e p a r i n g i t s meal
in t h e m i d s t of a small p l a t e a u covered with tall, wiry
grass, high as a m a n ' s head.
" W h i l e t h e meal w a s cooking, B r y a n t decided t o push
forward a s h o r t distance to a knoll from which he m i g h t
hope to see w h a t w a s ahead, for t h e guide in t h i s s t r a n g e
c o u n t r y w a s of little use s a v e to c u t a p a t h with his n a k e d
bolo t h r o u g h t h e grass a n d ferns. -
" L e o n w e n t on with h i m , his b l a d e r h y t h m i c a l l y m o v -
ing r i g h t a n d left t w o paces in a d v a n c e . It w a s a windless
d a y , w i t h o u t even a b r e a k to ripple t h e surface of t h e sea
of grass in which t h e r e w a s a n o t a b l e absence of animal
t r a c k s . N o t even birds were i n evidence. T h e old m a n
paused, listened a n d cocked a w a t e r y eye, full of fear a n d
rebellion a t t h e w h i t e m a n . B r y a n t listened a n d realized
t h a t h e h a d n e v e r been i n such complete silence. T h e r e
was n o t even a rustle in t h e grass nor t h e whir of an insect.
" I t w a s u n c o m f o r t a b l e a n d h e m o t i o n e d for Leon t o
proceed, b u t t h e old m a n b u r s t i n t o a pitiful plea to go
b a c k a n d fell a t B r y a n t ' s knees, b u t t h e w h i t e m a n g a v e
him a shove a n d again t h e swish-swish w e n t on until a
lone t r e e rose in their p a t h .
" T h e t r e e w a s p e r h a p s thirty-five or forty feet high,
a c o m p a c t sort of a tree with h e a v y dull-green leaves lying
close t o g e t h e r w i t h a shingly look a n d concealing t h e
b o u g h s a n d u p p e r t r u n k . A p p r o a c h i n g near, t h e American
was impressed w i t h several t h i n g s at once.
" T h e foliage stopped all a r o u n d at a beautifully even
distance from t h e g r o u n d as if carefully t r i m m e d by
h u m a n h a n d s , a n d t h e thick t r u n k stood in t h e center of a
perfect circle of b a r r e n g r o u n d a b o u t t h i r t y feet in diameter.
"All a b o u t t h i s park-like opening t h e congonale grass
stood like a wall, b u t in t h e clearing itself n o t a wisp of
16 FIELD M U S E U M OP N A T U R A L HISTORY
a n y sort of v e g e t a t i o n w a s visible, n o t h i n g b u t w h a t
a p p e a r e d to be a sort of volcanic ash. T h e air was h e a v y
with a n odor t h a t s t r u c k a n u n p l e a s a n t chord i n B r y a n t ' s
m e m o r y , a n d y e t t o this d a y h e c a n n o t place it. I t was
an a n i m a l smell, s o m e t h i n g b e t w e e n t h a t of carrion a n d
t h e circus, a n d y e t neither.
" A t t h e base of t h e t r u n k , shiny w i t h some sort of
sticky exudation, w a s a pile of w h i t e bones t o o d r y to
taint the atmosphere. I n s t e a d of s a v i n g himself t h i r t y
feet of unnecessary mowing, Leon s t a r t e d to c a r v e him-
self a p a t h a r o u n d t h e edge. B r y a n t looked u p o n t h i s as
one m o r e example of t h e stupidity, a n d p e r v e r s i t y which
all w h i t e m e n h a v e r e m a r k e d in t h e negro. L a z y as a
dog, nevertheless w h e n t h e Philippine aborigine does do
a n y t h i n g he choses for himself t h e h a r d e s t a n d m o s t
inefficient w a y .
" T h e A m e r i c a n did n o t m i n d . H e w a s glad o f t h e
extra t i m e t o examine t h a t tree. H i s guess w a s t h a t t h e
big b l a c k leaves, like a shingle roof, h a d m a d e t h e ground
b a r r e n a n d d e a d w i t h i n t h e circle. Still some rain should
h a v e blown in. W h y w a s t h e b o u n d a r y s o sharp?
" A m o n g t h e bones B r y a n t saw w h a t m i g h t b e a h u m a n
skull a n d s t a r t e d across t h e open to pick it u p . As he
m o v e d he n o t e d half-consciously t h a t a breeze m u s t be
springing u p , for t h e leaves j u s t a b o v e his h e a d were
beginning to u n d u l a t e . A faint hissing m a d e h i m look
again to see if it could be a snake.
" T h e t h o u g h t was k n o c k e d o u t of his m i n d by t h e
s u d d e n i m p a c t of t h e guide's b o d y on his b a c k . The
M o r o l a n d e d with a yell, pinioned b o t h his m a s t e r ' s a r m s
a n d tried to pull h i m over b a c k w a r d , all t h e t i m e shrieking
like a fiend. B r y a n t , certain t h a t t h e m a n w a s insane,
wondered gratefully w h y t h e old fool h a d n o t s t r u c k w i t h
his bolo. T h e A m e r i c a n w a s helpless u n t i l he could free
his a r m s , which should h a v e been easy w i t h this r a t h e r
frail old m a n , b u t was n o t , because t h e g u i d e fought with
t h e s t r e n g t h of a m a n i a c .
CARNIVOROUS PLANTS AND "THE MAN-EATING TREE" 17
t h e p a p e r ] . It was r o u n d as a smoke s t a c k — t h e t r u n k , I
mean, a n d d a r k g r a y or ash-color. T h e whole tree was
symmetrical a n d t h e tree a n d g r o u n d u n d e r it, was v e r y
inviting to a s t o r m - b e s e t or sun-depressed traveller. T h e
clucking a n d hissing was, I j u d g e d , from a gluey con-
sistency of, or on, t h e leaves. My impression was t h a t if
it reached me, it would fasten a n d hold me, t h u s it h a d
done to apes, birds, a n d a n i m a l s . ' "'
T h e A m e r i c a n version of this m y t h h a s at least t h e
a d v a n t a g e of discarding t h e sensational a n d pseudoscien-
tific feature c o m m o n to t h e o t h e r r e p o r t s , a n d introducing
into t h e legend a n o t e of h u m o r o u s exaggeration.