| The Madagascar Tree | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of the man-eating tree, from the front cover of Madagascar: Land of the Man-Eating Tree | |
|
First Appearance |
October 27, 1874 |
|
Created By |
Edmund Spencer |
Origin[]
The Madagascar Tree is a man-eating plant large enough to kill and consume a human or other large animal.
In 1874, a widely read article in a popular American magazine described a “man-eating tree” of Madagascar that supposedly consumed human sacrifices. Although the story was entirely fabricated, it was presented as eyewitness reporting and widely believed. Similar accounts appeared in newspapers and travelogues, often attributed to unnamed explorers or missionaries. These stories thrived in an environment where distant lands were poorly understood and sensationalism sold papers.
Osborn claimed that both the tribes and missionaries on Madagascar knew about the hideous tree, repeated the above Liche account, and acknowledged "I do not know whether this tigerish tree really exists or whether the bloodcurdling stories about it are pure myth. It is enough for my purpose if its story focuses your interest upon one of the least known spots of the world."
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of the Madagascar Tree published before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Madagascar: Land of the Man-eating Tree (1924)