i8o 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



pressure from without. A little worm or insect, or even a very small 

 fish, can pass within, but never back again. The sack acts like an ell 

 trap or a catch-'em-alive mouse trap. These little sacks actually 

 allure very small animals by displaying glandular hairs about the en- 

 trance. The small animals are imprisoned and soon perish and decay 

 to nourish the wicked plant. 



Fig. 2. Bladderwort, Ulricularia vulgaris, a Floating Aquatic, the Flowers, at least 



ARE PROTECTED FROM CRAWLING INSECTS. (Slightly reduced. ) 



It is not the purpose of these pages to go into details regarding the 

 methods of insectivorous plants, but to tell how plants defend or pro- 

 tect themselves. 



When scattered by Bursting Pods, the Seeds ore seldom found by 

 Animals. — When mature, the pistils of certain plants burst quickly 

 and with considerable force, scattering the seeds in every direction. 

 The small size and the inconspicuous colors of the seeds make it cer- 

 tain that few of them will ever be found and destro} r ed by insects or 

 mice. Plants of this kind are euphorbias or spurges, violets, peas, 

 beans, witch hazel, castor-oil plants, balsams and many more. 



The bearded chaff enclosing the grains of porcupine grass and wild 



