RECORD: Anon. 1875. [Review of Insectivorous plants]. Darwin on insectivorous plants. Minneapolis Messenger (28 October): 4. 

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2022. RN1


[page] 4

Darwin on Insectivorous Plants.

A recent work has made its appearance from the pen of Mr. Darwin, entitled "Insectivorous Plants," and has been reprinted in this country by the Appletons. It is said to prove beyond a doubt, that certain plants not only catch insects, but devour and digest them by a process essentially the same as that seen in animals, and absorb the products of digestion into their system. He discovered that 9-,760,000th. of a grain was sufficient to excite the tentacles to action. It is needless to say that Mr. Darwin believes that insectivorous habits have been gradually developed in these plants, and he traces the steps by which any ordinary plant having viscid glands, might, under favorable circumstances, be converted into a species capable of true digestion.

 


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

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