434 



DROSERACE^. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



flies and other insects that happen to alight upon them. It is probable it would jield a 

 valuable dye. It is also believed that some of the Swan River species of Drosera might 

 be turned to account in that way, for every part of D. gigantea stains paper of a brilhant 

 deep purple, and when fragments are treated with ammonia they yield a clear yellow. 

 The bulbs of D. erythorhiza and stolonifera have similar dyeing qualities ; they have 

 been stated by Dr. Milligan to be eatable, but that is a mistake, according to Drum- 

 mond. The irritability of the glandular hairs which clothe the leaves is one of the pecu- 

 liar features of the Order, and reaches its maximum in the curious genus Dioneea, 

 whose leaves, bordered by stiff teeth, and divided into two halves, are furnished on each 

 half with 3 minute bristles arranged in a triangle, which bristles are extremely irritable, 

 and when touched cause the two sides of the leaf to collapse with such considerable force, 

 that they cannot be separated again without employing violence : they, however, spon- 

 taneously open again in a short time. 



Drosera, Linn. 

 Rorella, Rupp. 

 Ros-Solis, Toum. 

 Esera, Neck. 



GENERA. 



Aldrovanda, Monti. 

 Byblis, Salisb. 

 Drosophyllum, Link. 

 Dionaea, Ellis, 



Numbers. Gen. 7. Sp. 90. 



Roridula, Linn. 



Iridion, Bunn. 

 Sondera, Lehm. 



Pyrolaceee. 

 Position. — Fumariaceae. — Droserace^. — Berberidacege. 

 ViolacecB. 



