19-2 
naked, (Exc. same) cylindrical scape; floral envelope consisting of from 4 to 10 
leaflets, the external more or less sepaloid and bracted at the base. Stamens nu- 
merous hypogynous; azthers versatile, introse, 2-celled, opening by longitudinal 
fissures. Sty/e single, truncate, with a minute stigma (or as above described), per- 
sistent. uta 3 to 5-celled capsule, opening loculicidally ; p/acente projecting 
from the axis into the cells. Seeds obovoid, numerous; emdryo cylindrical; aléumen 
copious. This limited family is represented by three genera, viz.: Darlington, 
with one species, having two free honeyed wings projecting laterally from the 
inner edge of the small mouth of the tube; Sarracenia, with eight species and 
two varieties; and Heliamphora, of Guiana and Venezuela. The leaves of this 
family are all apparently formed with the intent of capturing insects and digesting 
their remains through the agency of the water they hold, which becomes acid and 
causes decomposition of the captured insects. It certainly seems intentional adap- 
tation to the necessities of the plant that insects are caught and macerated, from 
the structure, for which no other reason would account. Mr. W.K. Higley, in his 
interesting paper on “The Northern Pitcher-Plant,” * says: “Inside these pitchers 
are found hairs, which cover more or less of the inner surface. Those which cover 
the hood continue to or a little beyond the junction with the tube. Following this 
area is a smooth surface which extends to near the point where the leaf begins to 
contract, when a patch of less stiff hairs are met with. This time they extend into 
the narrow portion of the tube. All the hairs point downward. 
“The position and form of these hairs, especially those on the hood and upper 
part of the tube, and in fact, any that may be above the fluid, in the lower part of 
the leaf, would show that their function, in part, at least, is to prevent the escape 
of any insect that may have entered the tube. The hairs in the lower part of the 
tube probably act, to some extent, as absorbents of the nitrogenous matter decay- 
ing within the leaf. Some acute observers claim that at the end of each hair there 
is a minute opening, thus allowing the nitrogenous fluid to pass directly into the 
apical cell of the hair. This does not seem to be the case, but instead, the wall 
surrounding the entire cell is very thin. These hairs are simple trichomes, that is, 
they are rather cells than organs. Unlike the tentacles of the sundew, in no case 
do the spiral bundles enter their tissue. I am inclined to believe that these cellu- 
lar hairs serve more than one purpose in the economy of the plant. 
“A study of the structure and physiology of the whole family shows that all 
the forms need a great deal of absorbing surface, for there seems to be a lack of . 
stomata. The tissue of the leaf is almost constantly gorged with a large supply 
of nourishment, consisting, evidently, of absorbed nitrogenous matter, and needs 
a great extent of surface exposed to the air for the purpose of absorption in car- 
rying on the functions of assimilation and metastasis. In support of this there is 
considerable evidence, the most important of which is the fact that many of these 
hairs, especially those on the hood, contain chlorophyl. From a study of marked 
leaves through the whole season I am led to believe that some of these hairs are 
hall 
* Bulletin Chicago Academy of Sciences, Vol. 1, No. 5, p. 41. 
