320 UTRICULARIA NEQLECTA. [Chap. XVII. 



CHAPTER XVn. 



UTRICULARIA. 



VtrietUaria nepfecta Structure of the bladder The uses of the several 

 parts Number of imprisoned animals Manner of capture ^The 

 bladders cannot digest animal matter, but absorb the products of its 

 decay Exi>eriments on the absorption of certain fluid^ by the quad- 

 rifid processes Absorption by the glands Summary of the observa- 

 tions on absorption Development of the bladders Utricularia vul- 

 garis Utrictdaria minor Utricularia clandestvia. 



I WAS led to investigate the habits and structure of the 

 species of this genus partly from their belonging to the same 

 natural family as Pinguicula, but more especially by Mr. 

 Holland's statement, that " water insects are often found 

 imprisoned in the bladders," which he suspects " are destined 

 for the plant to feed on." ' The plants which I first received 

 as Utricularia vulgaris from the New Forest in Hampshire 

 and from Cornwall, and which I have chiefly worked on, 

 have been determined by Dr. Hooker to be a very rare 

 British species, the Utricularia neglecta of Lehm.' I subse- 

 quently received the true Utricularia vulgaris from York- 

 shire. Since drawing up the following description from my 

 own observations and those of my son, Francis Darwin, an 

 important memoir by Prof. Cohn on Utricularia vulgaris has 

 appeared ; * and it has been no small satisfaction to me to 

 find that my account agrees almost completely with that of 

 this distinguished observer. I will publish my description 

 as it stood before reading that by Prof. Cohn, adding occa- 

 sionally some statements on his authority. 



Utricularia neglecta. The general appearance of a 



> The ' Quart. Mag. of the Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, of Blstem, 



High Wycombe Nnt. Hist. 8oc.' for having sent me sevoml tine 



July, iSBS, p. 5. Delpino (' Ult. lots of thlw speolos from the New 



Osservas. nulla DIeogamla.' &c. Forest. Mr. Kalfs was also ho 



IWW 18(N), p. in) alHO quotes kind as to send me living plants 



Crouan as having found (1W>H) of the same hpm-I'k from near 



cruHtaoeanH within the bladders I'ensanre in Cornwiill. 

 of l/'lriculaHa vulmrUt. Heitrllge ssnr Itlologle der 



* I am much indebted to the Pflanzen,' drittes Heft, 1^5. 



