186 



semblance to the coloring matter of the elderberry and red cab- 

 bage, but is unlike them in fundamental chemical characters. 

 The aqueous extract is dextrorotary, reducing, and fermentable. 

 Husemann (Pflanzenstoffe 107. 1871) describes an alkaloid called 

 sarracin in the form of needle-like crystals which can be isolated 

 from the rootstock. 



Schimper, in 1882 (Bot. Zeit. 40 : 226. 1882) made diges- 

 tion experiments upon plants of S. purpurea which were growing 

 wild in the Massachusetts bogs. Some of his observations were 

 made upon insects caught by the plants, and some upon pieces 

 of meat that had been placed upon the leaves. He found that 

 on closing the pitcher with tissue paper at the time of opening 

 and thus preventing the free entrance of bacteria the digestion 

 took place no more quickly than in water outside the plant. 



Goebel's (/. c. 167) experiments were conducted upon plants 

 under cultivation. The pitchers were filled to within 10 cm. of 

 the top, and closed with a cork covered with paraffin. The height 

 of the fluid was measured by a strip of paper fastened on the out- 

 side of the pitcher. After 48 hours the following observations 

 were made : The fluid in the pitcher containing i.o per cent, formic 

 acid in which fibrin previously swollen had been placed, was 

 lowered 6.8 cm.; the remaining liquid was acid, the fibrin was not 

 attacked. Water in another pitcher was reduced from 10 cm. to 

 8 cm. by absorption. Meat-extract neutralized with sodium 

 hydroxide was reduced from 10 cm. to 7.5 cm. The meat-ex- 

 tract was full of bacteria, turbid, and alkaline in reaction. A 

 piece of meat the size of a pea was placed with water to a height 

 of 10 cm. in a young green pitcher. After 2 days the column 

 was reduced to 8.2 cm., but the meat had scarcely changed 

 though it was covered with bacteria. A small piece of meat was 

 placed in another young pitcher with meat-extract. After 5 

 days the meat had a bad odor, but not as unpleasant as that of 

 the control, and it eliminated ammonia. 



From the results of these experiments Goebel concluded that 

 Sarracenia had no protein dissolving enzyme or antiseptic sub- 

 stance and that the inner surface of the pitcher, especially the 

 lower part, could absorb water and dissolved substances. 



