SARRACENIACE^ 



which is expanded at the top into a very broad and petal- 

 like five-angled umbrella-shaped body, with five parts, the 

 parts terminating under the angles in as many little, 

 hooked stigmas. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule. 



This is an interesting plant, and by its "pitchers" very 

 easy to identify. The hollow leaves or pitchers "keeled 

 on the inner side toward the flower-stem," as Mr. Mathews 

 so well describes them, "are usually partly filled with 

 water and the fragments of insects; the latter are apparent- 

 ly drowned and no doubt contribute to the physical sus- 

 tenance of the plant. The outer surface of the pitchers 

 is smooth, but the inner surface is covered with fine 

 bristles pointing downward which manifestly interfere with 

 the escape of the trapped insects." 



A drug, made from this plant, was at one time used in 

 the treatment of small-pox. 



116 



