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Could a carnivorous plant be a cure for smallpox?

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By Chelsie Vandaveer

July 30, 2001

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Red Hardy Pitcher Plant, Tropical Pitcher Plant, Venus Flytrap—>Click here.

The huntsman's cup, Sarracenia purpurea, [sar a cin' ee a pur pur ee' a] is an insectivorous bog plant native to the North American continent.

In the mid-1800's, smallpox still ravaged through the U.S. and Canada, the native peoples being the hardest hit.
Plant of the Week 07/23/2001

Huntsman's cup (Sarracenia purpurea)
Plant of the Week 07/23/2001

In his book, American Medicinal Plants, Charles Millspaugh writes of Mr. Herbert Miles, Assistant Surgeon to the Royal Artillery. Miles was stationed in Canada when an epidemic of smallpox broke out among the Natives. His report to the military read, "an old squaw going amongst them, and treating the cases with the infusion (of S. purpurea)...was so successful as to cure every case".

The military decided to test the huntsman's cup infusion at the Small-pox Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. It "proved to be without any curative powers in this disease". But in a retort against the way the doctors had used the infusion, Mr. F. H. Bignell, presented a paper to the Quebec Geographical Society. His paper stated, "...I may mention that, to my personal knowledge, this precious root not only saved my brother's life, but its use also appears to wholly obviate the unsightly pitting common to the disease; if it is extracted and dried at the proper season."

To view photographs of the green form of Sarracenia purpurea, click on the link: http://www.panix.com/~eshelton/wildflow/FLOWERS/pitcher/pitcher.html

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Red Hardy Pitcher Plant

Springhill Nursery®

Expanded 10-12" leaf stalks extend into pitcher-type ends with solitary nodding cup-shaped blooms in summer. The showy pitchers are white with red veining and secrete nectar that attracts insects. The pitchers remain on the plants throughout the growing season; perfect for a unique border.

Sarracenia x ‘Scarlet Belle’

Shipped in 3" pot. Zone 7 to 9

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Unique Characteristics: Looking for the unusual? Look no further, this is it. Like something from outer space, this low growing plant exhibits rounded leaves which form a parrot head like pitcher at each end. The showy pitchers are white with bright red veining and secrete a nectar that attracts insects. Pitchers stay on the plants the entire growing season.

Additional Information: Cross of Sarracenia leucophylla (white pitcher) and Sarracenia psittacina (parrot pitcher).

Tropical Pitcher Plant

Springhill Nursery®

This carnivorous tropical plant has long, straplike leaves with red-tinged green pitchers hanging from the tips. The pitchers secrete nectar, attracting insects to them. An easy-to-grow variety, it provides an exotic look for a container on a deck or patio.

Nepenthes ventricosa

Shipped in 3" pot. Zone 10.

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Unique Characteristics: A tropical plant native to the Highlands of the Philippines. Long strap like leaves with facinating reddish green pitchers hanging from the tips of the leaves. The rim of the pitchers secrete a nectar that attracts insects and has a small 'lid' to keep out excessive rain. Carnivorous plants were once thought to be difficult to grow, but this variety is easy to grow and provides an exotic look for a deck or patio setting in the summer months. Provide bright light and keep evenly moist and you will be rewarded with a tropical beauty.

Additional Information: Don’t use clay pots, they tend to dry out too quickly and salts from the water can accumulate and damage the plants. Rain water or distilled water is best.

Venus Flytrap

Springhill Nursery®

This carnivorous plant variety has short sawtooth edges on the traps and upright-growing leaves. Native to the Carolinas, it is not a tropical plant as most believe. The 6-12" plant uses its traps to catch prey to build protein formations in nitrogen-poor soils. Plant outdoors in a container in a sunny spot for best results.

Dionaea muscipula ‘Dente’

Shipped in 3" pot. Zone 7 to 10.

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Unique Characteristics: This carnivorous plant variety exhibits shorter sawtooth edges to the traps with leaves that grow more upright than other dionaea varieties. It is not a tropical plant as one might think. It is found natively in North and South Carolina in nitrogen poor areas such as bogs. The plants use its traps to catch prey to get nitrogen for protein formation that the soil cannot provide. Performs best outdoors in a sunny location with amply moisture.

Additional Information: The sign of a healthy venus flytrap is a pink tinge to the inside of the traps. If you see a pale green, you may need to provide more light.