254 



PRACTICAL BOTANY. 



and take their sleep positions. Rub the under side of the 

 pulvinus for some time. Note the effect on the leaflets. 



c. Venus' Flytrap, which grows native 

 in parts of North and South Carolina, is 

 not uncommon in conservatories and pri- 

 vate collections. The end of each leaf 

 is cut off from the lower part of the leaf 

 by incisions reaching to the midrib, and 

 is expanded into two lobes which can 

 fold up on the midrib as on a hinge. 

 The outer edge of each lobe bristles with 

 hairlike teeth, or tentacles. Each lobe 

 bears many glandular areas and three 

 hairlike spikes. Avoid these spikes, and 



FIG. 184. -Leaf of , * .. . A 



Venus's Flytrap, touch with a pencil point any other por- 



Dionsea. 



(After 



of the lobes, . or marginal hairs. 

 Does the leaf show any movement ? 

 Touch the spikes. What is the result? Touch the hinges. 

 What is the result ? Observe how long 

 a time elapses before the leaf resumes 

 its former position. Place a small in- 

 sect in contact with one of the spikes. 

 Keep the plant under observation long 

 enough to see what happens. 



d. The Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) 

 is common, growing half buried in 

 masses of Sphagnum Moss in bogs. 

 Each individual plant consists of sev- 

 eral round leaves of a reddish color, 

 which lie prostrate, and an upright flower 

 stalk with whitish flowers. Each leaf 

 is borne at the end of a somewhat long 

 petiole. The petioles and the flower 

 stalk originate at a common center. Each leaf bears on 

 its surface, and especially around the circumference, hair- 



tundifolia. Entire 

 plant. (After Ben- 

 tham.) 



