64 PREDATORY PLANTS. [CHAP. 



flower. It is frequent in boggy ground, but confined 

 to the north. The greasy substance, or "oilous 

 juice," as old Gerarde called it, is secreted by glan- 

 dular hairs, with which the leaf is studded. The 

 leaf itself is irritable, and the edges become incurved 

 over any nitrogenous substance placed upon it. It 



is not entirely carnivorous, as some seeds and pollen 

 grains are also dissolved by the increased secretions 

 consequent upon irritation. This fluid is acid, and 

 similar to that secreted by Drosera, and after dis- 

 solving its food it is again absorbed by the glands, 

 together with the foreign substance it has dis- 

 solved. 



Another new insectivorous plant is the Bladder- 

 wort (Utricularid), of which we have three native 

 species. They are aquatic, and delight in the foulest 

 ditches. The plant is submerged, and the leaves 



