Something different: Carnivores in Madrid

Madrid was our family trip’s next stop after Lisbon.  I believe Madrid is another of those very underrated tourist destinations in Europe.  When one thinks of this great city, bullfighting comes to mind as a must-do tourist event.  Well, I can tell you that watching a bullfight wasn’t on my list of to-dos over there.  In fact, none of my kids were interested … only the wife (wonder why).  While we did see the biggest bullfighting arena in the city, Madrid is much, much more than this stereotype.  It is a most beautiful world landmark indeed.

Now, today’s topic doesn’t refer to my boys gorging themselves on the fabulous meats and other exotic Madrileño cuisine, though they had plenty of opportunity to do this as well, even having the chance to dine at the world’s oldest restaurant, Casa Botin.  Known for its roasted suckling pig and lamb, Casa Botin is also acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the oldest surviving restaurant on this planet, having opened in 1725.  This famous dining spot was a favorite of literary giant Ernest Hemingway, and the great painter Goya supposedly worked there as a dishwasher of some sort before his artistic career took off.

No … today’s topic refers to carnivores of a more floral sort.  Let me elaborate: we stayed in the city for about a week.  On one of these days, we decided to visit the world-famous Prado Museum.  On that somewhat warm day, we walked from our hotel at the Calle Goya to the Museum, a good 30-minute walk but well worth it.  I was most impressed to see the fantastic artworks of Goya and El Greco.  I had seen some of these works in various publications and, would you believe, on postage stamps (philately is one of my other passions).  But to see these masterpieces “face-to-face” took the experience to a much grander level.  I believe even the boys enjoyed the experience.

After exiting the Prado, we decided to take another short walk to The Royal Botanic Garden (Spanish National Research Council) on the Plaza de Murillo.  I knew it was nearby from an earlier city tour we had done a few days earlier.  Now, let me quote from their brochure:  “The Royal Botanic Garden constitutes a national monument of great historic and artistic interest.  Its mandate includes research and investigation, conservation of rare species, and educating the public about botany.  Its more than eight hectares house a collection featuring 5,000 different species of living plants, exhibited according to aesthetic as well as scientific criteria.  On 17th October 1755, King Fernando VI ordered the creation of the Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid, which was planted outside the city in a grove known as Migas Calientes.  In 1774, King Carlos III gave the order to move the Garden to its current location on Paseo del Parado, and it was inaugurated in 1781.

“During this period, three terraced garden beds were built, and the plants ordered according to the method of Linnaeus — one of the most important botanists in history.  The wrought-iron gates surrounding the Garden were also installed at this time, as well as the grape arbors and the greenhouse known as the Villanueva Pavilion.  From the very beginning, the Royal Botanic Garden has been a center for teaching botany, sponsoring expeditions to the Americas and the Pacific, commissioning drawings for major editions of botanical prints, and amassing an important collection of plants which has served as the basis for discovering many new species … After decades of penury and neglect, it was closed to the public in 1974 for extensive renovation.  In 1981, the restored Garden was inaugurated by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain.”

Of course, the first thing I wanted to see was the cactus and succulent greenhouse.  We did see that and I will feature that visit in my next column.  But nearby, my family was also fascinated to see the wonderful carnivorous plant collection in the greenhouse, definitely the best exhibit of carnivorous plants I have ever seen anywhere! 

I am no expert on carnivorous plants, but I’ve always had a secret fascination for them.  Wikipedia describes these plants:  “Carnivorous plants (sometimes called insectivorous plants) are   “Plant” plants that derive some or most of their  “Nutrient” nutrients (but not  “Energy” energy) from trapping and consuming  “Animal” animals or  “Protozoans” protozoans, typically  “Insect” insects and other  “Arthropod” arthropods.  Carnivorous plants appear adapted to grow in places where the soil is thin or poor in nutrients, especially  “Nitrogen” nitrogen, such as acidic  “Bog” bogs and rock outcroppings.   “Charles Darwin” Charles Darwin wrote the first well-known treatise on carnivorous plants in 1875.

“True carnivory is thought to have evolved in at least 10 separate lineages of plants, and these are now represented by more than a dozen  “Genus” genera in five families. These include about 625 species that attract and trap prey, produce digestive enzymes, and absorb the resulting available nutrients.  Additionally, over 300  “Protocarnivorous plant” protocarnivorous plant species in several genera show some but not all these characteristics.

“Five basic trapping mechanisms are found in carnivorous plants:

1. Pitfall traps ( “Pitcher plant” pitcher plants) trap prey in a rolled leaf that contains a pool of digestive enzymes or  “Bacteria” bacteria.

2. Flypaper traps use a sticky  “Mucilage” mucilage.

3. Snap traps utilize  “Thigmonasty” rapid leaf movements.

4. Bladder traps suck in prey with a bladder that generates an internal  “Vacuum” vacuum.

5.  “Lobster trap” Lobster-pot traps force prey to move towards a digestive organ with inward-pointing  “Trichome” hairs.”

All these different carnivorous plant “traps” were represented in the Royal Botanic Garden collection.  And the display was magnificent, reminding me of a miniature bog with acid rising from its depths.  Believe it or not, there are many collectors around the world who absolutely love these plants.  I have some overseas friends who would pay a fortune for our Philippine species.

Now, when one thinks of carnivorous plants, thoughts of huge, man-eating creatures come to mind, most recently depicted in the movie Journey to the  Center of the Earth based on the Jules Verne book and starring Brendan Fraser.  The plant this cinematic concoction was based on is the Venus Flytrap, the most famous of all carnivorous plants. 

Wikipedia describes this most famous member.  “The Venus Flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, is a  “Carnivorous plant” carnivorous plant that catches and digests animal prey — mostly  “Insect” insects and  “Arachnid” arachnids.  Its trapping structure is formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant’s leaves and is triggered by tiny hairs on their inner surfaces.  When an insect or spider crawling along the leaves comes into contact with one or more of the hairs twice in succession, the trap closes.  The requirement of redundant triggering in this mechanism serves as a safeguard against the spurious expending of energy toward trapping other, non-living things which may not reward the plant with similar nutrition.  The plant’s common name refers to  “Venus (mythology)” Venus, the Roman goddess of love.” 

Now, that’s an interesting tidbit for all of us star-crossed lovers out there!

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E-mail the author at succulentophile@yahoo.com.