PITCHER-PLANTS. 99 



CHAPTER V. 



CARNIVOROUS PLANTS — PITCHER-PLANTS. 



There are some plants which have commended 

 themselves to notice cither by their singular form, 

 peculiar habit, showy flowers, or beautiful odour. 

 Before carnivorous plants attracted any attention on 

 account of their flesh-devouring proclivities, the 

 Pitcher-plants had acquired notoriety, not on account 

 of their showy flowers or beautiful odours — because 

 these are attractions which they do not possess — but 

 simply on account of their singular form. The 

 pitchers, from whence the name is derived, hang sus- 

 pended at the ends of the leaves, of which they are 

 simply prolongations and modifications. Most Pitcher- 

 plants consist of a clump of long, narrow green leaves. 

 The extremities of the latter are attenuated down to 

 the midrib, which becomes reduced to a cord, at the 

 end of which hang suspended, one from each of many 

 of the leaves, a curious bag or pouch, not unlike a 

 small and delicate jug or pitcher, with a smaller leaf- 

 like flap hanging over the mouth like a lid. These 

 pitchers usually contain a little fluid, looking like 

 H 2 



