346 



PLANT LIFE. 



each of which is tipped by a large gland (fig. 385). The 

 clear, glistening fluid, a large drop of which is secreted 



by each gland, is sticky enough 

 to entangle even insects of con- 

 siderable size, which alight upon 

 the leaves. The viscid secretion 

 envelops the struggling insect, and 

 at the same time the branches of 

 the leaves bend slowly inward 

 until more and more of the sticky 

 glands are thrust upon it. The 

 character of the secretion then 

 changes. It becomes 

 more watery and 

 contains ferments 

 which soon digest 

 the softer parts of the 



Fig 388. 



Fig. 387. — A, blooming plant of Aldrovandia vesiculosa. Natural size. — After 

 Drude. B, a single circle of leaves seen from the center above, showing stalk and 

 two semicircular lobes. Magnified i| diam. — After Caspary. 



Fig. 388. — Transverse section through closed trap of Aldrovandia, showing on inner 

 face long sensitive hairs and many absorption hairs. Only the central part is three 

 layers of cells thick ; a broad margin is only one cell thick. Compare appearance in 

 B, fig. 387. Magnified 20 diam.— After Caspary. 



body. These are absorbed, and play an important part in 

 the nutrition of the plant. 



Dioncea (fig. 386) and its water mate, Aldrovandia (fig. 

 387), have leaves whose blades are somewhat like a spring 



