ILLUSTRATIONS. 93 



wild state, and not unfrequently in gardens upon artificial 

 rock work. It forms a close spreading flat tuft or patch of 

 the brightest green when not in flower, and during the flowe '- 

 ing season is literally covered with its bright yellow star-like 

 blossoms. The leaves are small and thick, ovoid, spurred 

 at the base, those of the barren shoots usually imbricated in 

 about six rows. The flowers are wholly bright yellow, in 

 short terminal cymes ; they have five short sepals, and five 

 longer distinct petals which spread out in the form of a star, ten 

 stamens, and five carpels. The whole family is distinguished 

 for the succulent or fleshy character of its leaves or stems. 



In boggy places on open heaths, growing amongst sphagnum 

 moss, may generally be found a profusion of little rosulate 

 plants furnished with curious glandular hairs. They are the 

 Sundews, and represent the family of Droseraceous plants, 

 which some learned botanists place among the Thalamiflores, 

 and others along with the Calyciflores, according as the inser- 

 tion of the stamens is regarded as hypogynous or perigynous. 

 Its position is thus quite an unsettled point. We here follow 

 Mr. Bentham in regarding it as associated with Saxifraga 

 and Parnassia. The Common Sundew ^ has a short slender 

 rootstock, encircled by round or orbicular leaves attached by 

 long stalks, and covered on the upper surface with long red 

 viscid hairs, each hair bearing a gland at the top. In the centre 

 rise two or three slender flower-stems supporting an undivided 

 or once-forked one-sided raceme of small whitish flowers, which 

 have five small sepals, five somewhat larger petals, and five 

 stamens, — the latter being considered almost or by some bota- 

 nists quite hypogynous. They are very interesting little plants, 

 and are called Sundews from the little glands secreting a pel- 

 lucid fluid which sparkles like dew-drops in the sunshine. 



* Drosera rotundifolia — Plate 8 B. 



