PITCHER PLANTS 



water. "A centipede If inches long having fallen into a 

 vase of Sarracenia purpurea in the night was found only 

 half-immersed in the water. The upper half of the creature 

 projected above the liquid, and made violent attempts to 

 escape ; but the lower part had not only become motionless, 

 but had turned white from the effect of the surrounding 

 liquid ; it appeared to be macerated, and exhibited altera- 

 tions which are not produced in so short a time in centipedes 

 immersed in ordinary rain-water.''^ 



In some Sarracenias the vase is brought up into a sort of 

 hood or dome with the entrance at one side and below. 

 There are thin patches on this dome or cupola, and small 

 insects, attracted by the light which comes through these 

 bare places, remain dashing themselves against them or 

 crawling over them just as flies do on a window-pane, until 

 they become tired and fall down into the water below. 



There is something horrible in the cold and careful way 

 in which this plant arranges its baits for " confiding insects. 

 The latter are fed with honey, even on the very border of 

 the assassin's den, but after this farewell revel they generally 

 slip upon the smooth edge, and are hurled, like lost souls, 

 down into the abyss." ^ 



In another plant, the Pitcher Plant {Nepenthes, so 

 called from the drug which produces the sleep of death), 

 we find an even more beautifully arranged pitcher which 

 acts in very much the same way. It is, however, only the 

 end of a rather long leaf, or rather of its midrib, that is 

 turned up to act as a pitcher. There are similar stiff hairs 

 pointing downwards, and honey is plentifully secreted. But, 

 in Nepenthes, there is also a distinct secretion which digests 



1 Kerner, Natural History of Plants. Many details are taken from 

 this work in the present chapter. ^ Dennett. 



344 



