THE BLADDERWORT FAMILY, 199 



generally grouped in fours, have the power to absorb 

 the animal juices, and carry the nourishment to the 

 interior of the plant. Various details are here passed 

 over, as the student, it is hoped, will be able some day 

 to read Darwin's account in full. 



With regard to the flower, the calyx is two-lobed ; 

 the corolla is personate and spurred. There are only 

 two stamens, and the syncarpous pistil is composed of 

 two carpels. 



Genlis'ea. — G. Africa! na, the only South African 

 species, has a very different leaf from that of the other 

 genera. The lower part has a long tube enlarged at 

 one place into an oval bladder. At the upper end of 

 the tube, where it opens above by a slit, are two spiral 

 arms. The tube is lined with many rows of stiff hairs 

 pointing downwards, which Darwin compared to a paper 

 of rows of pins rolled into a tube. Among these are 

 both four- and two-celled absorbing processes, as in the 

 Bladderworts. Insects crawl down the tube, and the 

 hairs completely prevent them escaping backwards. 

 After their death, all nourishment capable of being 

 absorbed is taken into the plant by means of the 

 glands. 



With regard to the flower, this has a five-parted 

 calyx; the corolla is personate, the lower lip being 

 three-lobed with a spur at the base. The flowers are 

 yellow or violet. There are only two epipetalous 

 stamens. 



