>study
>is three-fold:
>1. general research of the topic
>2. search for information on how these plants can make our world a bette=
r
>place
> Can medicines or other products be made from them?
> Can they be eaten?
> Can they be used to get rid of unwanted insects and other small animal=
s?
>3. search for information on what is being done to preserve these plants=
What a great topic!
Medicines have been made from many of these plants, typically herbal or
"folk" remedies in the past. Two books that I have come across mention this
in some small detail Marcel Lecoufle's book "Cultivating Carnivorous Plants"
I believe the title is ... and "Carnivorous Plants" by Adrian Slack, MIT
Press. I think that Nepenthes, in Greek means "banisher of grief" because the
liquid of the unopened pitchers (Nepenthes is a tropical, largely Asian
pitcher vine) was used to cure depression. Both books mention that the "dew"
from various sundews has also been used for various cures for both people and
animals (Encyclopaedia Britannica in the late 1700s said that a cure for
freckles and sunburn was made from the juice mixed with milk.)
One of the books also says that the leaves of butterworts (Pinguicula) have
been used to curdle milk for cheese, and that the Laps (the Reindeer herders
of the arctic) still do.
Hope this helps.
Jay Lechtman
L235@aol.com