Chapter II 



23 — Sarracenia 



sometimes two cells, the adjunct cells, which appear to be derived 

 from the parenchyma. The walls of the adjunct cell, or cells in con- 

 tact with the gland cells, are variously thickened, reticulately and 

 circularly, as represented by Goebel (1891). Fenner thought that 

 the adjunct cells are also derived from the epidermis (Fenner called 

 them "Durchlasszellen"), but their denser protoplasmic content in- 

 dicates that they have more than a passive role. The outer walls 

 of the cover and peripheral cells are all cuticularized, staining with 

 fat stains (Congo Red, etc.) except a part of those making the contact 

 with the adjunct cell or cells. These walls resist sulfuric acid along 

 with the outer walls of the surrounding epidermal cells. But meth- 

 ylene blue easily permeates these glands in the living leaf. 



The interior glands (j— i) are of similar structure, but are of 

 two courses, evidently, as Fenner indicates, derived from originally 

 four peripheral cells. The gland, aside from the adjunct cells, there- 

 fore consists of normally 10-12 cells, the outer course having four periph- 

 eral and two cover cells, the inner course usually four to six cells. The 

 cover cells are slenderly conical, are wedged in the middle of the outer 

 peripheral cells, extending inwardly till more or less in contact with 

 the inner course. Their walls are considerably thickened and cuti- 

 cularized throughout. The base of the gland is in contact with two 

 to four or five adjunct cells with reticulate, circularly or spirally 

 thickened walls of contact which give a positive reaction with phloro- 

 glucin and HCl. Here, however, there is no suberization of the gland 

 cells so that there is left a "window" (Fenner's term) allowing 

 communication by ready diffusion between the adjunct and gland 

 cells proper. The glands of the nectar roll, while identical in struc- 

 ture with those elsewhere, show a certain distortion consequent on the 

 growth movement resulting from torsion during the development. 



The structure of the glands in whatever zone they occur is the 

 same, though they function differently. On the outer surface of the 

 pitcher and on the inner in zones i and 2, they secrete nectar. Though 

 Hooker was in doubt on this point, I am sure of it from my own 

 observation. I have also, on a warm, sunshiny day watched flies in 

 numbers busily sucking the nectar and some of them getting trapped 

 by slipping down the surface of zones i and 2. The glands of zone 

 3, however, probably secrete digestive ferments, judging from the 

 results of Hepburn et al. (1927), to be discussed later. 



Sarracenia psittacina Michx. — This species (i — 8) is associated 

 with 5. purpurea in the Decumhentes by Uphof, because of the posi- 

 tion of the leaves which lie more or less parallel with the ground. The 

 leaf considered as a trap, is, however, quite different in this species, 

 and is much more efficient mechanically — or at least it appears so. 

 No account I know of quite brings this point out. The leaf which 

 Goebel described as the "first pitcher leaf" is a juvenile form (3 — 5). 



Its habitat is low, wet, sandy meadows subject to inundations 

 by the acid waters of nearby swamps (Wherry). 



It is regarded taxonomically as associated with S. purpurea, but 

 it is as much or more like Darlingtonia. The pitcher consists of a 

 narrow, tapering curved tube (j — 4), somewhat flattened dorsiven- 

 trally, with a wide ventral wing, and with the top of the pitcher 



