STONECROP FAMILY 



margined, narrowed to hairy 

 petioles. Flowers white, 

 about y A in. broad, 1 to 25 

 in a terminal naked-stalked 

 1-sided raceme. Petals and 

 stamens 5 each. Styles 3 or 

 5, deeply parted; capsule 1- 

 celled, many-seeded. 



Although the Sundew has 

 not yet been found in the 

 Yosemite National Park, 

 there is little reason to 

 doubt its occurrence, since 

 it grows in cold bogs of 

 Strawberry Valley, Cala- 

 veras Co., and in Huckle- 

 berry Meadow, Giant For- 

 est. The numerous bristly 

 hairs of the leaves exude a 

 fluid that glistens in the sun- 

 shine like dewdrops, hence 

 the common name of the genus. The Sundew is a partially 

 insectivorous plant. When an insect alights upon one of the 

 leaves, the bristles close in upon the body, holding it fast; at 

 the same time digestive juices are excreted which gradually 

 decompose the nitrogenous material, rendering it available 

 for the nourishment of the plant. The California Pitcher 

 Plant (Darlingtonia) is even more interesting in its method 

 of trapping insects, but it does not grow in the Yosemite 

 National Park, being restricted to bogs from Plumas Co. to 

 Mt. Shasta and the North Coast Ranges. It is reported that an 

 eastern botanist once experimented with insectivorous plants, 

 feeding them on various sorts of food, until one day he made 

 the mistake of supplying them with fresh cheese. As a re- 

 sult they all contracted dyspepsia and died, thus abruptly 

 terminating the investigation! 



CRASSULACEAE. Stonecrop Family. 

 Succulent perennial herbs with mostly entire leaves and no 

 stipules. Sepals, petals, and pistils of the same number 

 (4 or 5), the stamens twice as many. Fruit consisting of 

 dry many-seeded pods. 



Petals erect; leaves 1 to 4 in. long 1. Cotyledon. 



Petals spreading; leaves 1 in. or less long 2. Sedum. 



