THE SUNDEW FAMILY, 97 



the tentacles, after some hours, bend over and bring 

 then- head-like glands down upon the object; a fluid 

 is secreted by them which gradually dissolves the 

 ^^g, etc., and its nourishing matters are absorbed. 

 The cells of the glandular hairs are red at first, but 

 become paler, from above downwards, when consuming 

 food; for the colouring matter becomes clotted into 

 little droplets, leaving clear spaces in the cells. Aft^r 

 all the nourishment has been extracted, the uniform 

 red colour is resumed, from below upwards, throughout 

 the tentacles, which now spread away as before; and 

 any undigested debris, as of a fly, etc., is left behind. 



Rorid'ula. — This genus differs from Dros'era in 

 having a three- celled ovary with a solitary seed in each 

 cell, instead of many seeds. It is a much larger plant, 

 quite a shrublet, with larger and divided leaves. 



Dr. Marloth has made the interesting discovery that 

 the flowers are fertilized by small insects, which also 

 pierce the stems for sweet juices as food ; but, at the 

 same time, they can run over the plant regardless of 

 its sticky glands, which have no power to arrest, much 

 less consume them as food. 



There are two species, natives of the Western district. 



General Description of the Sundew Family. 



Herbs — Frequenting marshes. 



Leaves —Covered with sticky glandular hairs or 

 tentacles for catching insect prey. 



H 



