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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Perhaps no one of the insectivorous plants possesses what may be 

 more truly called a trap than does the bladderwort (Utricularia) . 

 This is a floating aquatic plant without roots, confined to pools and 

 quiet streams where it is in no danger of being washed away. Borne 

 thickly upon the fine leaves, and like them entirely submerged in the 



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Fig. 1. The Bi.adderwoet in Bloom. At the left may be seen the traps. 



water, are the traps, minute hollow globular structures bristling with 

 hairs at one end. Buried among the hairs is the entrance to the trap. 

 Swimming about in search of food or in an attempt to escape from 

 enemies, some minute crustacean or insect larva will push in among 

 the hairs. Spying the entrance, it will dart forward and striking the 

 almost transparent door it will unwittingly pass into the trap. But 

 the door has instantly sprung shut again and vain will be all the efforts 

 of the prisoner to make an escape. Starvation soon ends its struggles. 



