182 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Drosera spathulata (The Spatkulate-leaved Drosera). 

 Leaves in a rosette, each leaf from J-in. -fin. long. Flower-stem, lin. - 6in. 

 long; 1 -6flowerecl. Petals, white. Calyx, 5-lobed ; petals, .5; stamens, 5. 

 From Mangonui to Stewart Island: local. Fl. Dec. -Jan. 



Drosera binata {The Tivin-leaved Drosera). 



A very distinct species, with leaves like a two-pronged fork, all radical. 

 Flowers on slender stems, white, ^in. - ^in. across, 6 to 8 on a stem. 

 Sepals, petals, and stamens, 4 - 5. Both islands ; common in clay bogs. Fl. 

 Nov. -Feb. 



Drosera auriculata. {The Ear-shaped Drosera). 

 A pretty little plant with pink or purple flowers, growing in dry soils. The 

 stems are slender and straggling; sometimes '2ft. -3ft. in length. The root- 

 leaves are few in number ; those on the stems alternate, with two long narrow 

 processes on the upper part, like pointed ears. These, as well as the remainder 

 of the leaf, are covered with the long red hairs common to all Sundews. Seen 

 under a microscope, by artificial light, the leaf of the Sundew is a most beautiful 

 object, and well worth studying. 



Insectivoeous Plants. 

 Plants which grow in bogs often find it difficult to procure the 

 nitrogen necessary for their sustenance ; and they have, there- 

 fore, evolved means of catching and digesting flies and other 

 insects. Darwin was the first to investigate thoroughly, and 

 establish the carnivorous nature of numerous plants. INIany of 

 the facts connected with them are highly remarkable, and for a 

 full description, the great evolutionist's work on Insectivorous 

 Plants should be consulted. In the Droseraceae, or Sundews, 

 the upper surface of each leaf bears a number of bright red,, 

 clubbed, glandular hairs, every one with a glistening drop of 

 viscid fluid at the upper end. These tentacles are longest round 

 the margin of the leaf, and grow gradually shorter towards the 

 centre. If an insect touches the centre of the leaf, it becomes 

 glued to the hairs, and, a few minutes afterwards, the marginal 

 tentacles bend towards it, and seize it. The orifices of its 

 respiratory organs become blocked up by the viscid fluid, and, 

 finally exhausted by its struggles, the unfortunate insect dies. 

 The amount of the secretion from the tentacles increases,. 



