148 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



open woodland flower also is a kidnapper ; although 

 it is not one of the worst kind. As it must pro- 

 tect its flowers from pilfering insects that crawl, 

 the flower-stems are covered with a sticky fluid, and 

 those ants which persist in trying to ascend the 

 stalk are held fast by the glue until they are dead. 

 A case of slaughter, but in self-defence. 



Another member of the Pink family, and one 

 equally skilled in catching insects, is the starry 

 campion. In the tubes of its snowy white flowers 

 are tiny drops of honey that must be saved to re- 

 ward the flying insects which carry its pollen. 

 Therefore, it spreads a sticky fluid on its calyces, 

 and occasionally on its pedicels, to catch crawling 

 intruders ; and in this way it entraps the would-be 

 burglar. 



As there are no general prisons in the plant 

 world, each individual plant is compelled to hold 

 and imprison its own enemies. Thus kidnapping is 

 really forced upon them. 



The common or card teazel, sometimes known 

 as gypsy combs, has learned through ages of ex- 

 perience how best to care for itself. Not only 

 does it defend itself against browsing animals by 

 means of its numerous prickles; but, that it may 

 be sure of enough food, it has learned to kidnap 

 insects. This is done in a most novel manner. The 



