INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS. 



189 



The illustration of the Sundew (Fig. 48) repre- 

 sents two leaves magnified about three times. 

 One leaf has all the tentacles in the normal posi- 

 tion, while the other has a part bent over some 

 small creature. 



Why Drosera consumes insects is easier asked 



FIG. 48, LEAVES OF SUNDEW (Drosera). (Magnified). 



than answered. The plants live in water, or in 

 very moist places, where the roots can imbibe or 

 drink so as to supply the viscid secretion that it 

 may capture its prey. And this Round-leaved Sun- 

 dew grows mostly among sphagnum moss where 

 it is almost impossible for it to obtain the usual 

 plant-food or nitrogenous matter except as it gets 



