238 THE WONDERS OF VEGETATION. 



Java by the Nepenthes gymnamphora. The Cepha- 

 lotus is the Australian pitcher-plant, and exceedingly 

 curious and beautiful, being ornamented with stripes 

 of red and purple, while the Sarracenia, also called 

 the side-saddle plant, from a faint resemblance to a 

 lady's saddle, is quite common in this country and 

 abounds in the marshy regions of Virginia. All the 

 nepenthes are evergreen creepers, and in the tropics 

 climb up the trunks of trees to the height of thirty 

 feet. This habit, and the long dark green shining 

 leaves render the several kinds of nepenthes highly 

 ornamental ; but the curiously constructed and grace-- 

 fully formed pitcher which hangs by a long slender 

 stalk to the end of each leaf, places them among the 

 most singular and attractive objects in nature. Draw- 

 ing their own water unaided from the wells of the 

 dewy night, they fasten down the lid to keep it 

 sweet and untainted by the wandering bedouins of 

 the air, to be ready, at call, for the master's sole use. 

 It is commonly believed among the Indians of the 

 mountains that if they cut off the little cups of a ne- 

 penthe, and empty out the contents, the day will not 

 pass without clouds gathering and rain falling ; hence, 

 when they have reason to fear rain, they take good 

 care not to touch this plant. On the other hand, 

 when continued drought makes them anxious for rain, 

 they hasten to turn over the cups or urns of the ne- 

 penthes. They hold this plant in high esteem, as being 

 one of the most precious to the traveller, although it 

 often happens that no nepenthes are found except 

 on the banks of rivers, the waters of which are prefer- 



