Carnivorous Plants. 



213 



type are exhibited by the twining of tendrils, climbing stems, 

 twisting of elongated fruits, flower peduncles, &c. 



There are many examples of movement exhibited by 

 leaves (e.g. of sensitive plant), flowers (stamens), and other 

 parts, which are not due to growth, but manifest themselves 

 in response to external stimulus, or take place at certain 

 periods of the day or of the life of the plant, as a result of 

 certain chemical changes going on in the plant itself. An 

 instance will be given in the concluding section of this 



FIG. 107. LEAF OF Mimosa pudica. (Duchatre.) 



A, during the day. B, during the night or after irritation. 



chapter when we discuss the remarkable phenomena pre- 

 sented by carnivorous plants. 



SECTION VI. CARNIVOROUS PLANTS. 



Even an elementary text-book on biology would be 

 incomplete without an account of the remarkable phenomena 

 presented by the so-called carnivorous plants. Although 

 these forms belong to a number of different tribes, they all 

 agree in being able to absorb nitrogenous organic com- 

 pounds from the dead bodies of insects which they are able 



