90 DROSERACE^ 



action, and he has found that the average number on each leaf is above 190, 

 while some have as many as 260. Those in the centre are short and stand 

 upright, and their stalks are purplish-green, and somewhat flattened. These 

 leaves shine as if they retained the early dewdrops, for their hairs are sur- 

 rounded by conspicuous drops of a clammy substance, which exude from the 

 glands, and which, glittering in the sunshine, gained for the plant its name 

 of Sundew — a name which finds its synonym in almost every country in 

 Europe. The flower was of old times called also Rossolis, as Avell as Red Rot. 

 The plant, which turns black when drying, stains paper on which it is placed 

 with a deep red hue. 



This juice of the Sundew, which may be drawn out in viscid threads, has 

 long been known to be acrid and caustic — enough so, indeed, to blister the 

 skin — and it is used by country people as a cure for corns and warts, though 

 when diluted with milk it makes one of the best of vegetable cosmetics. It 

 also curdles milk by its powerful acid properties, and the plant is said to 

 cause some maladies to sheep if feeding on it. But the pastures on which it 

 abounds would, from their moist nature, be unfavourable to the health of 

 these animals, though the herb itself may probably merit the disfavour of the 

 shepherd, as Professor Lindley mentions a Brazilian species which is con- 

 sidered poisonous to cattle. The once-famed cuiua rosce soils, called also spirit 

 of sundew, was highly praised by old writers as a cure for convulsions, and 

 even the plague ; and the juice distilled with wine, and spiced, was formerly 

 much used as a tincture. 



" Beyond, the moorland has its wealth 



Of pink and purple, blue and gold ; 

 Heather and gorse, whose breath gives liealth, 



And ling, a hive of bees that hold : — 

 And when there's moisture in the brake. 



The clammy Sundew's glistening glands 

 'Mid carmine foliage boldly make 



Slaves of invading insect bands." 



Everyone who has observed the Sundew must have seen how its leaves 

 are disfigured by the blackened remains of dead insects, or the torn gauzy 

 wings of little creatures yet struggling to escape, lessening for a time their 

 beauty, but being reallj^ necessary to the very existence of the plant. When 

 some insect, allured by the sweet drops, alights on a leaf, it is seen that this 

 lias a wonderful power of motion, reminding one of that of the tentacles of 

 the sea-anemone. No sooner do those delicate feet touch one or two of 

 these hairs, than those in their immediate neighbourhood converge to that 

 part of the leaf, and all turning in, they enfold the unfortunate intruder. 

 Mr. Darwin has seen a small butterfly entrapped by the Sundew, and another 

 observer saw a large living dragon-fly, with its body firmly held down by two 

 of the leaves. In ten seconds after the insect touches them the movement 

 begins ; in five minutes the hairs are strongly curved inwards ; and in half 

 an hour the grasp is concluded ; nor are these movements dormant even 

 during the night. Darwin, in his most interesting work on Insectivorous 

 Plants, says : " I gathered by chance a dozen plants bearing fifty-six fully 

 expanded leaves, and on thirty-one of them dead insects or remnants of them 



