Carnivorous plants

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, cryptobotanists are also interested in plants whose existence has not been confirmed. One such plant is Umdhlebi, supposedly growing in Zululand in southern Africa. The most detailed description of Umdhlebi was provided in 1882 by missionary G.W. Parker. According to him, Umdhlebi has large, brittle green leaves and two layers of bark – a dead outer layer and a living inner layer. Umdhlebi produces red and black fruit, the flesh of which is poisonous. Unfortunately, the scarcity of descriptions and the lack of Umdhlebi specimens force this plant to be relegated to the garden of myths for now.

Also unconfirmed is the existence of the plants described by traveler Harold T. Wilkins in his book "Secret Cities of Old South America." In it, Wilkins describes two plants supposedly found in Brazil.

The first of these, said to occur in Mato Grosso, is known as the "devil's tree." Local Indians claim the tree is the size of a willow. Its branches are hidden among the surrounding greenery. When an unsuspecting animal or human stumbles upon one, all of them sneakily emerge from hiding and envelop the victim, crushing them in an increasingly tight embrace.

The second plant described by Wilkins seems slightly more credible. This tree, also supposedly growing in Brazil, has long, hanging tentacles. The stench of rotting flesh it emits is said to warn of its proximity. Small birds are reportedly drawn to the plant, tempted by its sweet-tasting berries. The plant's tentacles entangle the birds and press them tightly against the trunk. The suckers on the tentacles absorb the birds' blood, after which they dry out, and the drained bird carcasses fall to the ground.

Descriptions of similar plants exist in many places around the world, including the "snake tree" growing in Mexico and a similar tree growing in Nicaragua

Reports are coming from Madagascar of a mysterious tree that emits toxic gases and under which the skeletons of large animals are scattered. Czech researcher and adventurer Ivan Mackerle attempted to solve this mystery when he traveled to Madagascar in 1998. Upon arrival, he discovered that no one had heard of the mysterious tree, but he did discover a tree called kumanga, which emits poisonous fumes when in flower. The kumanga's leaves are also poisonous, as is the water flowing in a nearby river. Just beneath the tree, Mackerle found the skeletons of dead birds and a single turtle. The plant occurs only in one location in Madagascar and is extremely rare.

If Ivan Mackerle is right in reporting an unknown species of poisonous tree, then it must be admitted that Madagascar still holds many botanical mysteries, although the stories about man-eating trees should be dismissed as fairy tales.