SARRACENIA. 195 



The oeconomy of the Sarracenia, an Ame- 

 rican genus of which we now know four spe- 

 cies, and of the East Indian Nepenthes di- 

 stillatoria, deserves particular mention. Beth 

 grow in bogs, though not absolutely in the 

 water. The former genus has tubular leaves 

 which catch the rain like a funnel and re- 

 tain it ; at least such is the nature of S. pur- 

 purea, Curt. Mag. t. 849, whose margin 

 seems dilated expressly for this purpose, while 

 the orifice of the tubular part just below is 

 contracted to restrain evaporation. Linnaeus 

 conceived this plant to be allied in constitu- 

 tion to Nymphcea, and consequently to re- 

 quire a more than ordinary supply of water, 

 which its leaves were calculated to catch and 

 to retain, so as to enable it to live without 

 being immersed in a river or pond. But the 

 consideration of some other species renders 

 this hypothesis very doubtful. S.Jiava, t. 780, 

 and more especially S. adunca, Eact. But. 

 t. 53, are so constructed that rain is nearly 

 excluded from the hollow of their leaves, and 

 yet that part contains water, which &eeni3 to 

 be secreted by the base of each leaf. What 

 then is the purpose of this; unusual ceil -~ 



