190 INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS. 



it from the insects which it entraps and consumes. 

 But this cannot be said of the Long-leaved Sundew 

 (D. longifolid) which grows in black, muddy ponds 

 and bogs. 



The latter sometimes grows in water from ten 

 to twelve inches in depth, and the roots are im- 

 bedded in the black mud beneath. But the caudex, 

 or rhizoma, is prolonged so that the leaves and 

 flowers are above the water. And very beautiful 

 they look when they stand thickly on the water 

 as they sometimes do. Other water-plants grow 

 in the same shallow pond with this Sundew. 

 Water-lilies both Nymphcea and Nupliar and 

 the Water-shield (Brasenia peltata), and the pretty 

 little Floating-heart (Limnanthemum lacunosum), 

 all of which require an abundance of nitrogenous 

 food, and would not grow in the pond unless they 

 could obtain it. And yet this Long-leaved Sun- 

 dew which grows with them is a most expert 

 fly-catcher, and, although it cannot be said that it 

 is necessary for this plant to capture insects for 

 food, it entraps them all the same. Sometimes 

 large flies and small butterflies and moths are 

 caught and the leaves roll entirely around them. 

 They roll from the apex to the base, holding their 

 prey until all the soft parts are absorbed, when 



