38 FLOWERS OF THE BOGS AND MARSHES 



3000 ft. in the Highlands. It is a native of Ireland and the Channel 

 Islands. 



When bogs were more numerous Butterwort was to be found in 

 many different parts of the country, but chiefly, as now, in the north. 

 It is fond of spongy pools amongst the wild morasses of the north, on 

 the sides of hills, as well as at lower levels. It is associated with 

 Sphagna, Drosera, Rosemary, Bog Pimpernel, &c. 



The plant has a rosette of 8 radical leaves, ij in. long, | in. broad, 

 which are thick, greasy (hence the first Latin name), and fleshy. They 



are entire, coated with crystalline 

 points and pale-greenish in colour, 

 blunt, egg-shaped, succulent, pros- 

 trate, the central hollow, with a short, 

 broad stalk. The older leaves are 

 flat or convex, rosette-like in form. 

 The margins are curved inwards. 



The flowers are purple, large, 

 nodding, with an awl -like spur, 

 straight, as long as the petals, the 

 upper lip divided into two, the lower 

 into three. The scape is smooth 

 and dilated. The corolla is gaping. 

 The capsule is subglobose. 



The glandular hairs on the upper 

 surface of the leaves are of two 

 kinds; the larger glands are circular 

 in outline from above, thick, finely 

 divided by radial divisions into 16 



cells containing a light-green secretion. They differ in size and in the 

 length of the stalk. The fluid is sticky, and can be drawn out into 

 threads 18 in. long. A leaf may bear as many as 500,000 glands. 

 Insects that alight upon them are at once caught. The leaf margin 

 curls over, bringing the insect so imprisoned to the centre, where the 

 glands are more numerous. Not only are insects caught, but pollen, 

 seeds, &c., adhere to the leaves. The insects are slowly "digested" 

 by the aid of the fluid secretion. The plant is thus insectivorous. 



Butterwort is 6 in. in height. Flowers should be sought in May. 

 The plant is a perennial, increased by division. 



The flowers are open, conspicuous, and visited by bees. The 

 stigma, which is not sensitive, i.e. does not move, is pushed up by the 

 insect when it draws out its proboscis. A fly which enters the flower 



Photo. Flatters & Carnett 



Bl'TTERWORT (Pin^iiicttla vulgaris, L.) 



