3IO GLIMPSES IXTO PLANT-LIFE 



ment of the midrib of the leaf It varies in 

 size from the Httlc thimble-Hke pitcher of 

 Nepenthes gracilis to tlie hiri^e juQ-Hke receptacles 

 of Nepenthes Rafflesiana ' and others, each capable 

 of holding nearly a pint of flnid. The pitchers 

 are furnished with a lid overhanging the mouth 

 of the receptacle, this is kept open by a thick 

 rim. This rim and the under-surface of the lid 

 both secrete a sweet fluid which is attractive to 

 insects, and from the rim and opening of the 

 mouth a smooth surface directs the ill-fated flies 

 to the sweet sticky fluid alwa}'s found at the bottom 

 of the pitcher, out of which they rarely come alive. 

 Another of our native plants exhibiting these 

 insectivorous habits is the hutterwovt (Pinguicu/a). 

 Like the sundew it is a mere rosette of radical 

 leaves, having upturned margins and a very 

 succulent pellucid appearance. These leaves are 

 covered with glands which exude a viscid kind 

 of fluid like that on the tentacles of the sundew. 

 This natural birdlime catches and holds small flies, 

 midges, and other tiny flying creatures, as well as 

 crawling insects. The presence of these insects 



' See Frontispiece. 



