408 



DICOTYLEDONES. 



blade close slowly over them dissolving and absorbing all the digestible matter 

 as nourishment. 



Dioncea muscipula (Fly-trap ; N. Am.) has the same appearance as Drosera, 

 but the leaves are constructed as in Fig. 418. The stalk is flat and winged, the 

 blade small, circular, with powerful, pointed teeth along the edge, and on its 



FIG. 417. Leaf-rosette of Drosera rotundifolia (nat. size), and a leaf (magnified). 



surface are 6 small bristles (A), which are very sensitive. When these are 

 touched the blade quickly closes, folding along the midrib (B, C) and im- 

 prisoning the irritating object, the teeth round the edges fitting like the teeth 

 of a trap. If it happens to be an insect or similar body, a digestive fluid is 

 secreted which, like the gastric juice, dissolves the digestible portions. Aldro- 

 r/i/uUa I'esiculosa (Central and S. Europe) captures small aquatic animals 

 in a similar manner ; it is a floating, aquatic plant, the two halves of its leaves 

 also close together when irritated (Fig. 419). Drosophyllum. 

 About 110 species ; most of them in the temperate regions. 



FIG. 418. Dloncea muscipula. Leaves (nat. size). 



Orders 3 and 4. Sarraceniaceae and Nepenthaceae. These two orders 

 are perhaps most closely allied to the Droseracese and agree with these, among 

 other things, in the manner of taking nourishment. Like the Droseracea? they 

 absorb nitrogenous food from dissolved animal matter by means of their leaves, 

 which are specially constructed both to catch, to retain, and to digest any small 



