Experiments on Dionaea muscipula (Venus' fly-trap) / by Thos. A.G. Balfour.

  • Balfour Thomas A. G. (Thomas Alexander Goldie), 1825-1895.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experiments on Dionaea muscipula (Venus' fly-trap) / by Thos. A.G. Balfour. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    5/43 (page 335)
    writer than to careful scientific observation. The interest, however, attaching to the whole subject was such that T felt most anxious to test for myself the truth or otherwise ol the observations recorded. My observations are not complete, and though in some cases they refer to points which have been already carefully studied by others, the present paper also contains some original and independent observations, and hence may not be altogether wanting in scientific interest. In dealing with my subject I shall regard the Venus’ Fly- trap (Dionsea) as a carnivorous plant, and I feel warranted in doing so by the opinions expressed by those who have made this plant the subject of careful study. Ellis was one of those who, about a hundred years ago, brought the peculiarities of the plant under the notice of Linnaeus, &c. His letter to that famous botanist gave an excellent description of the structure and functions of the leaf, erring only in one or two points, such as in believing that the fluid secreted by the leaf was a kind of nectar to allure insects towards the sensitive part of the leaf, and in attributing to tbe hairs the power of transfixing the body of the captured insect. His opinion, however, was that the insect was made subservient to the nourishment of the plant. Dr Curtis seems to have been the next observer. He resided at Wilmington, North Carolina, where he had abundant opportunities of observing the plant in its native habitat. About forty years ago he gave an able and accurate account of it, and while he corrected Ellis’ mistakes regard- ing the time when the secretion was poured out, and showed the sensitiveness of the plant to reside in the hairs, he be- lieved with Ellis that the plant fed on the entrapped insect. Mr Canby, about seven years ago, while living at Wil- mington also, confirmed the opinion of Ellis and Curtis as to the animal diet of the Dionsea. Mr Darwin holds a similar view, and when we know that for six or seven years this distinguished naturalist has been studying the subject, and recall his wonderful and minute powers of observation, his great practical sagacity, and the fertility of his resources in devising experiments, we must attach no ordinary importance to the researches which I trust he may soon give to the world.