Fic. 239.— Blade of Leaf 
of Sundew. (Somewhat 
magnified.) 
or crawled into the 
FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 
This growth completely surrounds the 
young, active tips of all the roots and 
the threads of the mykorhiza, as it is 
called, seem to do the work of root- 
hairs. 
410. Carnivorous Plants. —In the 
ordinary pitcher-plants (Fig. 237) the 
leaf appears in the shape of a more or 
less hooded pitcher. These pitchers 
are usually partly filled with water, 
and in this water very many drowned 
and decaying insects are commonly 
to be found. The insects have flown 
pitcher, and, once inside, have been 
unable to escape on account of the dense growth of bristly 
hairs about the mouth, 
How much the com- 
mon American pitcher- _ 
plants depend for < 
all pointing inward and downward. 
nourishment on the S= 
drowned insects in the 
pitchers is not defi- 
nitely known, but it is 
certain that some of 
the tropical species re- 
quire such food.1 
In other rather com- 
mon plants, the sun- 
dews, insects are 
Fie. 240.— Leaves of Sundew. (Somewhat 
magnified.) 
The one at the left has all its tentacles closed 
over captured prey; the one at the right has 
only half of them thus closed. 
1 Where the Sarracenia is abundant it will be found interesting and profit- 
able to make a careful class study of its leaves. 
See Geddes, Chapters in 
Modern Botany, Chapters I and II. 
