PLANTS THAT KIDNAP 149 



lower part of the upper leaves form themselves 

 together so as to make a small cistern. Fluid, 

 supposedly water or dew, gathers in the cistern, and 

 here numerous tiny insects find a watery grave. 

 The poor creatures walk in, are unable to escape, 

 and so, after vain attempts to get out, fall ex- 

 hausted into the fatal tank. 



The teazel is not dependent upon insects for its 

 food; but it is becoming more and more an insect- 

 eater. No doubt, in the distant future it will 

 depend entirely on a carnivorous diet. At present 

 it does not digest its prey, but only absorbs, in the 

 form of liquid, the products of the decayed bodies 

 of its kidnapped victims. 



Not the least among the kidnappers are the Rho- 

 dodendrons. Who would ever suspect them of such 

 deeds? Yet it is true; and their wonderful clus- 

 ters of rosy pink blossoms are carefully protected 

 from crawling insects by the plant's skillful method 

 of spreading glue near the base of the flowers. 

 This glue catches and holds all creeping intruders. 

 But the Rhododendrons kidnap only in self-defence 

 and must not, therefore, be placed among the 

 criminal plants. The mountains in parts of Penn- 

 sylvania, especially in the Alleghanies, are literally 

 covered with Rhododendrons. Few flowers are 

 more beautiful. One is silenced in their presence 



