WATER-CUPS OF BROMELIADS 



But it is amongst the higher flowering plants that one 

 discovers the most extraordinary and purposeful arrange- 

 ments for capturing and digesting insects and other creatures. 



In the case of many of these insectivorous plants, traps or 

 pitfalls are prepared for the insect to fall into. 



There are many plants in which the rain is intended to 

 run in one particular direction, and it is not at all un- 

 common to find hollows at the base of the leaf where dust, 

 dirt, and dead insects accumulate. One very curious plant 

 of this sort is Dischidia Raffiesiana, in which the leaves 

 have become quite like a pitcher, and have been compared 

 to "natural flower-pots" intended to hold rain and leaf- 

 mould.^ 



Then there is the Bromelia or Pineapple family, which 

 consists for the most part of plants which live on the 

 branches of trees. In very many of these a small cup is 

 formed in the middle of the rosette or tuft of leaves, and 

 water collects in this central cup. 



The water smells abominably, and contains the bodies of 

 dead insects, and rubbish of all kinds (see also p. 298). The 

 remnants of these drowned insects are probably of use, 

 because any valuable nitrogenous or other material may be 

 absorbed with the water by the plant and help, to nourish 

 it, but in such a rough contrivance as this there is nothing 

 comparable to the Side-saddle plant. Pitcher plant, and 

 others. 



The former, Sarracenia (or Side-saddle plant), is a common 

 and rather widespread North American plant, which is 

 especially abundant in Florida. It is cultivated in most 

 botanical gardens, but can only be grown in greenhouses. 

 The leaves are about six inches to a foot long, and are 

 1 Groom, Ann. Bot., 1903, p. 223, 

 342 



