ett eR: 2S SOR Te 
BLADDERWORTS. 5 
ness of the Autumn nights, or because its energies are expended 
with flowering, and it decays away very rapidly, leaving nothing 
but the terminal buds, which consist of unfolded leaves and retain 
their vitality. As no more air-bladders are developed, the buds 
or gemme sink to the bottom and remain dormant and safe from 
injury from the weather during the winter. They are about the 
size of small peas, quite compact, and might easily, as no doubt 
they have been, mistaken for seeds sown in the ‘proper situation.” 
About March or the beginning of April, the buds again begin to 
grow, and the leaves to open out, and as soon as sufficient air- 
vessels are formed, the plant rises to the surface of the water. At 
this time a sweep with a butterfly net will usually bring up some 
of the green buds, which grow well in an aquarium, where the 
opening of the leaves, and the development of bladders, and the 
rapid extension of the stem, are sights well worth watching. 
It is probable that the bladders also have another and very 
different duty to perform, not less important, perhaps, than that 
of floating the plant in the water; namely, the capturing of 
insects which are destined for the plants to feed upon. Certain 
it is that very small water insects are often found imprisoned in 
the bladders—the opening allowing them to enter, but from 
its construction, preventing their escape. The Uftriculuria 
it has been seen, cannot obtain mineral matter from the soil, 
having no roots ; nor gaseous food from the air, having no stomata: 
and the animal food thus obtained may supply certain elements 
which it could not derive from the water; and the Utricularia 
may be added to the list of the highly interesting carnivorous 
plants. 
Perhaps some of the readers of this Magazine may be able, 
during the present summer, to study the habits of the Bladder- 
worts—to ascertain whether they, asarule, ripen any seed at all; 
if so, how and in what medium the seed germinates, and thus to 
clear up a somewhat obscure point in the history of these beautiful 
and curious waterweeds.* Rosert Horianp. 
* U. vulgaris is recorded as growing in the ditch in the meadow by the 
Suspension Bridge at Marlow; and in the river ditch near Fawley Court; 
we have found it in the ditches and ponds at the foot of Winter Hill, Berks. 
U. intermedia has been doubtfully recorded from Burnham Beeches. ED, 
