1 873-] CULTURE OF PITCHER-PLANTS. 249 



outside in the '^ rock-garden " of Messrs James Backhouse and Sons, 

 at York. This plant had a reputation as being efficacious in cases of 

 smallpox, but the idea is now nearly exploded. There are about half- 

 a-dozen species of Sarracenia, all of them being found in the swamps 

 or marshes of jS". America. They vary in height from six inches to 

 two feet, and bear very small rounded leaves at the apex of swollen 

 trumpet-shaped petioles. These swollen petioles are very efficient fly- 

 traps, for which purpose they are not unfrequently used in the locali- 

 ties where they are found. The flowers of these curious plants are 

 borne singly on scapes longer than the leaves ; some species having 

 pale greenish yellow flowers, while in others they are of a dull purple 

 colour. The flowers themselves are peculiar, having a very large 

 five-lobed disc, beneath which the stigmas are situated. In practice 

 it will be found best to remove the flowers as they appear — that is, 

 if specimen plants are required — thus reserving the vigour of the 

 plants for the production of foliage, which is their chief attraction. 

 Well-grown specimens of Sarracenias are very eflective for exhibi- 

 tion purposes, as all can testify who have seen the S. flava of 

 Mr Thomas Baines, or the noble plants of S. Drummondii at Chats- 

 worth. 



The Californian Pitcher-plant, Darlingtonia californica, is nearly 

 related to the Sarracenias, but is if anything more rare and beautiful. 

 It bears swollen pitchers about a foot high, which curve over at the 

 top, forming a hood ; and the lid or leaf, instead of being rounded and 

 entire as in Sarracenia, is divided like a fish's tail. The pitchers, like 

 those of Sarracenia and ISTepenthes, secrete a slightly glutinous fluid, 

 and old pitchers are generally found partly full of decomposed insects. 



Cephalotus follicularis, or the Australian Pitcher-plant, is the 

 smallest in the group, but highly interesting, bearing a profusion of its 

 green, purple-spotted pitchers, which are borne on separate stalks — 

 not at the apex of the leaf-like petiole as in Nepenthes. The leaves 

 of this curious little plant are about 3 inches long, and of a dark green 

 colour, and are quite distinct from the urn -shaped appendages 

 amongst which they are interspersed. This plant grows well in the 

 above-mentioned compost, and enjoys the protection of a bell-glass. 

 It is a plant of doubtful affinity, and at present enjoys the distinc- 

 tion of having a whole natural order to itself. I saw a fine speci- 

 men of this plant some time ago in the collection of eTohn Water- 

 house, Esq., Well Head, near Halifax, Yorkshire. It was in excellent 

 health, and bore numerous large and richly-coloured pitchers. 



The species of Sarracenia at present in cultivation are all of them 

 very beautiful and interesting. There are two distinct varieties of S. 

 Drummondii, and at least three of its congener S. flava. 



