PERFECT FLOWERS 51 



Pitcher-plant — Sarracenia purpurea 

 May-June 



A singularly interesting variation of this scheme 

 of protruding pistils is to be found in the flower of 

 the pitcher-plant. In many parts of the country 

 the pitcher-plant is a rarity, and very few of the 

 nature-lovers have ever seen the handsome blos- 

 som. The reason for this is that there are very few 

 of the peat-bogs, or sphagnum moors, which the 

 pitcher-plant and the sundew prefer. The peat- 

 bog furnishes no nitrogenous food for plants, and 

 it is said that for this reason the two plants men- 

 tioned have become fly-catchers in order to sup- 

 ply themselves with the nitrogen for which they 

 hunger. 



The flower of the pitcher-plant seems at a dis- 

 tance like a dull red rose; but great was mj^ sur- 

 prise to find the centre of the corolla closed by a 

 little green umbrella with five ribs. On dissecting 

 the flower, I found plenty of stamens clustering 

 around the umbrella-stick, but was baffled in my 

 search for the stigma. After considerable study, 

 I discovered that the umbrella was a protruding 

 pistil, with its outer end greatly expanded, and 

 that the tips of the five ribs, curved under into little 

 hooks, were the five divisions of the stigma, where 

 pollen must be applied. 



