196 ANNUAL REPORT ' 



was above the water, the other beneath; the immersed part had 

 changed to a white color, and showed changes not seen in speci- 

 mens simj)ly immersed for the same length of time in rain 

 water. 



Very different from the trumpets of Sarracenia purjmrea (Fig. 

 4) are those of Sarracenia variolaris [Fig. 5 (1)], which grow in 

 the swamps of Alabama, Carolina and Florida, and those of 

 Darlingtonia californica [Fig. 5 (2)], which grow in similar locali- 

 ties in Oregon and California. In both the acid fluid within is 

 produced by cells in the cavity, and it is impossible that a single 

 drop of rain could reach the interior. This tubular cavity in 

 both widens but little toward the opening, and is covered by the 

 under surface of the leaf, which projects as a hood or roof over 

 it [Fig. 5 (1)]. The mouth or entrance is therefore hidden, and 

 forms a slit or hole beneath the roof. The lower part of the 

 trumpet is uniformly green, but the upper part, and chiefly the 

 roof, is veined with red and carmine; the spaces between the 

 veins are thin, transparent, pale green or white, and produce the 

 effect of small windows in red or green frames. This impression 

 is heightened by looking through the mouth against the light. 

 All these various bright colors give the leaves the ap]3earance of 

 flowers. 



No doubt insects are deceived by these colors, and fly to the 

 traps, which, moreover, really secrete honey at their mouth and 

 inside the roof, thus inducing them to enter. Sarracenia variolaris 

 further invites wingless insects, chiefly ants, by having upon it a 

 flange forming a highway from the soil to the trap, with glands 

 to secrete honey as well [see Fig. 5 (1.)]. This highway leads to 

 a sure death; following the honeyed invitation, insects soon reach 

 the mouth, where more honey is stored for the poor victims. 

 Once inside, they are certainly forced to the bottom, as the 

 whole interior wall is covered with bristles pointing downward 

 (Fig. 3). Winged insects, which have entered the mouth, try 

 to save themselves by flying, but they never find the darkened 

 entrance, and mistaking the windows for real openings, they fly 

 against them until exhausted. As soon as the victims come in 

 contact with the enclosed fluid, they become stupefied, and die 

 sooner or later. This fluid must not, however, be called a poison, 

 as some insects can live in it for at least two days; it is simi3ly a 

 fluid which accelerates decomposition of the victims. The 

 number of captured insects is quite large, and deposits as thick 

 as fifteen centimetres have been observed. Why the leaves of 



