286 DION/EA MUSCIFULA.. CHAP. XIIL 



CHAPTER XIIL 



DlON^EA MUSCirULA. 



Structure of the leaves Sensitiveness of the filaments Kapid 

 movement of the lobes caused by irritation of the filaments 

 Glands, their power of secretion Slow movement caused by the 

 absorption of animal matter Evidence of absorption from the 

 aggregated condition of the glands Digestive power of the secre- 

 tion Action of chloroform, ether, and hydrocyanic acid The 

 manner in which insects are captured Use of the marginal 

 spikes Kinds of insects captured The transmission of the motor 

 impulse and mechanism of the movements Re-expansion of the 

 lobes. 



THIS plant, commonly called Venus' fly-trap, from the 

 rapidity and force of its movements, is one of the most 

 wonderful in the world.* It is a member of the 

 small family of the Droseraceae, and is found only in 

 the eastern part of North Carolina, growing in damp 

 situations. The roots are small ; those of a mo- 

 derately fine plant which I examined consisted of two 

 branches about 1 inch in length, springing from a 

 bulbous enlargement. They probably serve, as in the 

 case of Drosera, solely for the absorption of water ; 

 for a gardener, who has been very successful in the 

 cultivation of this plant, grows it, like an epiphytic 

 orchid, in well-drained damp moss without any soil.t 

 The form of the bilobed leaf, with its foliaceous foot- 

 stalk, is shown in the accompanying drawing (fig. 12). 



* Dr. Hooker, in his address to the habits of this plant, that it 



the British Association at Belfast, would be superfluous on my part 



1874, has given so full an histori- to repeat them, 

 cal account of the observations f 'Gardener's Chronicle,' 1874, 



a'aich have been published on p 4G4. 



