162 



PITCHER OF DISCHIDIA. 



this performs the same functions as in other cases, attracting 

 moisture from the atmosphere by its numerous points. It has 

 been observed, that the lid is closed in dry weather, as if to pre- 

 vent loss of fluid by evaporation from the interior ; but that, if 

 the atmosphere be made very damp, and especially if the plants 

 near it in the hot-house be watered, so as to cause a large quan- 

 tity of watery vapour to surround it, the lid of the pitcher will 

 open, and the quantity of water contained in it will soon show a 

 considerable increase. 



245. The most curious, perhaps, of all the Pitcher-plants at 

 present known, is one which has hitherto only been observed in 

 India, growing in its native forests ; it is called the Disckidia 

 Rafflesiana. It is a creeping plant, having a long twining stem, 

 which is destitute of leaves until near its summit ; and this may 

 be a hundred or more feet from the roots, on which, therefore, it 

 can scarcely depend for nourishment, by absorption of fluid from 

 the ground. Its supplies of moisture from a tropical atmo- 

 sphere would be very uncertain, if there were no provision for 

 storing up what it occasionally collects ; but with such a one it 

 is furnished. The pitcher seems formed of a leaf, with its edges 

 rolled towards each other and adherent ; and the upper end or 

 mouth, from which it is suspended, is quite open, 

 and adapted to receive whatever moisture may 

 descend from the air, whether in the form of rain 

 or dew. It is accordingly always found to contain 

 a considerable quantity of fluid, in which a number 

 of small black ants are generally seen ; these are 

 probably attracted by it, and their decomposition 

 may, as in the case of the Sarracenia, render it yet 

 more nutritious to the plant. But the most curi- 

 ous part of the whole apparatus, is a tuft of ab- 

 sorbent fibres, resembling those of the roots ; these 

 are prolonged from the nearest part of the branch, 

 or even from the stalk to which the pitcher is 

 attached, and spread through the cavity. They 

 may be regarded in the light of secondary roots, 

 servinor to introduce into the plant the fluid aliment collected in 



FIG. 70. 



PITCHER or Di 

 SCHIDIA ; show- 

 ing the tuft of 

 root-like fibres 

 prolonged into it 

 from the adjoin- 

 ing twig. 



