38 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



92. Nepenthaceae (from the genus Nepenthes, de- 

 rived from the Greek signifying a magic potion, prob- 

 ably in reference to the pitchers). NEPENTHES FAMILY. 

 Fig. 25. Slightly woody or herbaceous plants: leaves 

 alternate, consisting of a winged basal portion, a slender 

 stalk-like intermediate portion, and a terminal urn- 

 shaped pitcher with a rolling fluted border and a lid, 

 the pitcher containing a watery fluid: flowers dioDcious, 

 paniculate, regular; perianth of 4 parts, possibly 2 

 sepals and 2 petals, imbricated; stamens 4-16, mona- 

 delphous; ovary superior, 3-4-celled; ovules numerous 

 in each cell; stigma sessile, discoid: fruit a capsule. 



A single genus with about 40 species occurs in the 

 East Indies, Madagascar, the Seychelle Islands, and 

 New Caledonia. Borneo has the greatest number of 

 species. The family is related to the SarraceniaceK and 

 Droseracese, although formerly considered related to 

 the Aristolochiace. The habit, the undifferentiated 

 perianth, the monadelphous stamens, and the 3-4-celled 

 ovary, are distinctive. A remarkable family of insectiv- 

 orous plants. Along with the water secreted in the 

 cavity of the pitcher is a pepsin-like substance, by the 

 aid of which insects are digested, the dissolved material 

 being later absorbed. The slender part of the leaf 

 in some species coils and serves as a tendril by means 

 of which the plant climbs. 



3b 



4b A 



26. CRASSULACE^E: 1. Sedum, flower. SAXIFHAOACE.*:: 2. 

 Saxifraga, flower. 3. Kibes, a, floral diagram; 6, flower. 4. Par- 

 nassia, a, floral diagram; b, flower. CEPHALOTACE<E: 5. Cephalo- 

 tus, leaves. 



In American greenhouses, many kinds of Nepenthes 

 (Pitcher Plants), some of hybrid origin, are cultivated 

 because of their curious habit. 



93. Droseraceae (from the genus Drosera, derived 

 from the Greek, meaning dewy). SUNDEW FAMILY. Fig. 

 25. Very glandular herbs or sub-shrubs with alternate 

 leaves: flowers bisexual, regular, hypogynous, rarely 

 perigynous; sepals 4-5, imbricated; petals 5, imbri- 

 cated; stamens in 1 or more whorls of 5; carpels 2-5; 

 ovary superior, 1-3-celled: fruit a capsule with nu- 

 merous seeds. 



The 6 genera and about 100 species, 90 species of 

 which belong to the genus Drosera, are widely scat- 

 tered over the earth. The family is related in floral 

 structure to the Cistaceae and Violaceae, and to the 

 Saxifragacea. 



The Droseracese are noted as insectivorous plants. 

 Drosera has a. rosette of small basal leaves covered 

 with sensitive motile tentacles that secrete a terminal 

 drop of clear sticky fluid, the so-called dew, in which 

 small insects are caught as on sticky fly-paper. A 

 digestive substance is then secreted and the organic 

 matter absorbed. The leaves of Dionasa (the famous 

 Venus' fly-trap of Carolina) have a conduplicate ter- 



minal lobe which closes violently when a fly alights upon 

 the upper (inner) surface. A marginal fringe prevents 

 the escape of the insect; and it is in time digested. 

 Aldrovanda of South Europe has tiny traps similar 

 to those of Dionaja, but the whole plant is aquatic, and 

 resembles Utricularia. 



Drosophyllum and Roridula are said to be used in 

 Portugal and the Cape for the practical capture of 

 flies in the house. The leaves of some Droseras yield 

 a purple dye. The liquids known as aqua-auri and 

 rosoglio (Italian) contain Drosera rolundifolia as an 

 essential ingredient. 



Drosera and Dionaea are in the American trade, 

 mostly grown as greenhouse curiosities. 



Order 37. ROSALES 



94. Crassulaceae (from the genus Crassula, diminu- 

 tive of missus, meaning thick). ORPINE FAMILY. Fig. 

 26. Herbs or sub-shrubs: leaves mostly alternate, com- 

 monly fleshy: flowers mostly bisexual, regular; sepals 

 5, rarely 3-30, imbricated; petals as many, rarely con- 

 nate; stamens as many or twice as many as the petals, 

 epipetalous or hypogynous, rarely perigynous, separate; 

 carpels as many as the petals, separate with a scale 

 at the base of each; ovules numerous, rarely few or 

 one: fruit a group of follicles, rarely the carpels some- 

 what united and ovary half-inferior. 



Thirteen genera and about 500 species inhabit the 

 drier parts of the earth, but principally South 

 Africa and South Europe. The genus Sedum contains 

 140 species, and Crassula 120 species. This is a very 

 definite family, but closely related to the Saxifragacea?, 

 from which it differs in the regular numerical plan, 

 almost constantly separate ovaries, and predominat- 

 ingly fleshy habit. 



The Crassulacea; are well adapted to a dry climate. 

 The fleshy leaves are provided with water-storage 

 tissue and a thick cuticle, and are often odd in shape 

 and appearance. These leaves lose water very slowly 

 when separated from the plant, and will often remain 

 fresh for weeks. When pinned to the wall, the leaf of 

 Bryophyllum sends forth plantlets from the margin, 

 and the stem of live-forever may grow and flower, so 

 efficient is the protection against loss of water afforded 

 by the cuticle. These plants, likewise, will grow for 

 weeks or months in the collector's press. 



The herbage contains much tannin and sometimes 

 acid. A refreshing drink has been made from Semper- 

 irivum tectorum (houseleek). The fleshy leaves of the 

 Crassulacese are cooling to wounds and burns. Sedum 

 Telephium was formerly cultivated as a pot-herb. 

 Other species have been used for nearly similar pur- 

 poses. 



Several genera are in cultivation in America. Of 

 these, Sempervivum is the well-known Houseleek or 

 Old-hen-and-chickens; Cotyledon is somewhat similar 

 in growth; Sedum acre is Moss Stonecrop; and Sedum 

 triphyllum (S. Telephium) is Live-forever, or Orpine. 



95. Cephalotacese (from the genus Celphalot us, derived 

 from the Greek meaning headed, said to refer to the 

 capitate hairs at the base of the flower). CEPHALOTUS 

 FAMILY. Fig. 26. Perennial scapose herbs: leaves of 2 

 kinds in a basal rosette, one lanceolate and ordinary, 

 the other a petioled pitcher with winged sides, fluted 

 mouth and a lid: flowers bisexual, regular, perigynous; 

 perianth of 6 parts, apparently in one series, valvatc; 

 stamens 12, in 2 whorls; carpels 6, separate, arranged 

 around the woody apex of the axis; 1-2 basal ovules in 

 each: fruit dry, somewhat inflated. 



The family consists of but 1 genus and 1 species 

 (Cephalotus follicularis) , found in the swamps of King 

 George's Sound, West Australia. This family is related 

 to the Saxifragaceas, and was formerly united with that 

 family, but differs in the peculiar habit, the wholly 

 separate carpels arranged around the apex of the axis, 



