332 DROSOPIIYLLUM LUSITANICUM. Chap. XV. 



CHAPTEE XV. 



Dkosopiitlloi — RoRiDULA — Byblis — Glandular Hairs of other 

 Plants — Concluding Eemarks on the Droserace^. 



Drosophyllum — Structure of leaves — Nature of the secretion — Man- 

 ner of catching insects — Power of absorption — Digestion of animal 

 substances — Siunmary on Drosophyllum — Roridula — Byblis — 

 Glandular hairs of other plants, their power of absorption — Saxi- 

 fraga — Primula — Pelargonium — Erica — Mirabilis — Nicotiana 

 — Summary on glandular hairs — Concluding remarks on the Dro- 

 eeracese. 



Deosophyllum lusitanicum. — This rare plant has 

 been found only in Portugal, and, as I hear from 

 Dr. Hooker, in Morocco. I obtained living specimens 

 through the great kindness of Mr. W. C. Tait, and 

 afterwards from Mr. G. Maw and Dr. Moore. Mr. Tait 

 informs me that it grows plentifully on the sides of 

 dry hills near Oporto, and that vast numbers of flies 

 adhere to the leaves. This latter fact is w^ell known 

 to the villagers, who call the plant the " fly-catcher," 

 and hang it up in their cottages for this purpose. A 

 plant in my hot-house caught so many insects during 

 the early part of April, although the weather was 

 cold and insects scarce, that it must have been in 

 some manner strongly attractive to them. On four 

 leaves of a young and small plant, 8, 10, 14, and 

 16 minute insects, chiefly Diptera, were found in the 

 autumn adhering to them. I neglected to examine 

 the roots, but I hear from Dr. Hooker that they are 

 very small, as in the case of the previously men- 

 tioned members of the same family of the Droseracea). 

 The leaves arise from an almost woody axis ; they 



