CLASSIFICATION OF DICOTYLEDONS. 



193 



the latter are sensitive, and composed of two parts which snap 

 together like a steel trap. If an insect lights upon the leaf, 

 and touches certain hairs upon its upper surface, the two parts 

 snap together, holding the insect tightly. A digestive fluid is 

 secreted by glands upon the inner surface of the leaf, and in a 

 short time the captured insect is actually digested and absorbed 



FIG. 104. Types of Aphanocyclse (Cistiflorse). A, flower of wild blue violet, 

 Viola (Violacese.) , x 1. B, the lower petal prolonged behind into a sac or 

 spur, x 1. C, the stamens, x 2. 1), pistil, x 2. E, a leaf, x %. F, section 

 of the ovary, x 2. G, the fruit, x l. H, the same after it has opened, x"l. 

 J, diagram of the flower. J, flower of mignonette, Resc.da (Resedacese) , x 2. 

 K, a petal, x 3. L, cross-section of the ovary, x 3. M, fruit, x 1. N, plant 

 of sundew, Drosera (Droseracese), x y 2 . 0, a leaf that has captured a mos- 

 quito, x 2. P, flower of another species (D. filiformis), x 2. Q, cross- 

 section of the ovary, x 4. 



by the leaves. The same process takes place in the sundew 

 (Fig. 104, N) where, however, the mechanism is somewhat 

 different. Here the tentacles, with which the leaf is studded, 

 secrete a sticky fluid which holds any small insect that may 

 light upon it. The tentacles now slowly bend inward and 

 finally the edges of the leaf as well, until the captured insect 



