THE SUNDEW FAMILY. 95 



stamens, 4, 6, or 00, not tetradyvamous ; pistil of 2-3 

 carpels, parietal placentas. 

 FrvAt — A capsule or berry. 



DroseracesB. 



The Sundew Family. 



This order has 110 species of only 6 genera. 



The members of this family, which abound in 

 Australia, and are two in number in South Africa, are 

 remarkable for not only catching insects by their sticky 

 glands^ but for absorbing nourishment out of their prey. 



The accompanying illustration will give the details 

 of an example of sundew. 



Dros'era. — This genus, called Sundew in England, 

 has eight species in South Africa. Some have elongated 

 leaves, others, as the one figured (Fig. 35, 1), have round 

 blades, but covered with red glandular hairs both on 

 the surface and margins. (2) represents one of the 

 round blades ; the " tentacles " on the circumference 

 will be seen to be much longer than those on the 

 middle. (3) is one of the tentacles enlarged ; it is 

 composed of a gland at the top, while the stem is 

 built up of brick-shaped cells containing a coloured 

 fluid. (4) is a fringed sheath formed by the Stipules ^ 



' Stipules are two appendages at the base of tlie petiole in many 

 plants. If present, the leaf is said to be stipulate ,• if wanting, the 

 leaf is exstipulate. 



