s* 



f < 



IS POLTAiNDRTA MONOGYNIA. 



\ 



sub dilatata; floribus I curved ; longitudinal 



• IIUIIULI.3 I V^UL If v. VI ^ iv^iig.^ 



flayis, wing slightly dilated 



5 



flowers yellow^ 



Mich. 1. p. 310. Piirsh. 2. p. 367- 



S. Minor Walt. p. 133. Sp. pi. 2. p. 1150. 



S. Adunca. Smith Ex. Bot. 1. tab. 53. 



Leaves 12 — 18 inches high. Tube a little ventricosej colored near th^ 

 summitj and curiously^markedonthe back with transparent spots. Appen- 

 dix arched and vaulted so as in this species nearly to cover the contracted 

 throat. Wing along the central suture more dilated than in any other spe- 

 .cies except the S. purpurea. Petals spathulate-obpvate, yellowish. Stigr 

 ma acute at the andes. 



i- 



Grows around pine barren ponds^ very common Stlong the sea coast otf 

 Carolina and Georgia. 



Flowers in April and May. 



The plants belonging: to this genu?, form one of the most singular vari? 

 eties which the vegetable creation exhibits. Their long tubular leaves al- 

 ways contain water, produced probably by secretion^ and are generally fil- 

 led for two or three inches, with dead and decaying injects. JHow far the 

 water contained in these leaves may be necessary to the support of the 

 plant;, has not yet been sufficiently ascertained, but the insects although at- 

 tracted and destroyed by its very remarkable structure, yet can have little 

 or no connection with its existence. For the first accurate examination of 



J. 



these leaves, I believe, we are indebted to the late Dr. Macbride. Some 

 of his observations on the Sarracenia have been published in the transac- 

 tions df the Linnaean Society of London, (Vol. 12.) and some remain among 

 the unpublished papers of the Literary and Philosophical Society of South- 

 Carolina. 



It may he sufficient here to remark that the throat or orifice of these 

 leaves is generally covered with a saccharine secretion or exudation. Im- 

 jtnecliately below the throat for the space of nearly an inch, the surface 

 is highly polished, while the lower part of the tube is covered with hairs 

 all pointing downwards- When an insect attracted in the first instance 

 by the secretion of the plant, or perhaps even by the water descends as 



can 



and 



lar as to surpass the power of most insects. Whenever thoy touch the 

 bristly sides of the tube they are precipitated again to the bottom, and 

 have to renew their efforts, and many insects even of a large size perish 



in this arduous and boneless stninrnrlo 



ARGEMOiNE. Gen. Pl. 882. 



Calyx 3-phylIus, I Cah/x3-\e2i\ed, de 

 ^eciduus. Petala 6, cidiioiis. ' Petals if>* 



i 



j^- 



