THE SUN-DEW FAMILY. 81 



'Mid the wild moor or silent glen, 

 The Sundew blooms, unseen by men, 

 Spreads there her leaf of rosy hue, 

 Glitt'ring as if with morning dew." 



The leaves of the plant (Drosera Kotundifolia) are 

 its chief beauty; and yet, the slender red scape, 

 (4 or five inches in height,) rising from the centre of 

 the leaves, with many delicate small white flowers 

 growing down one side of it, adds greatly to the 

 beauty of its whole appearance. The leaves (pi. II. 

 14. g) are nearly round, of a delicate green, covered 

 with bright crimson hair-like glands. These glands 

 emit a clear, sticky fluid, which appears like drops of 

 dew upon the plant: sparkling in the sun, and in- 

 creased by the heat, instead of evaporating, as dew 

 ever does. " It appears to be useful to the plant, by 

 entangling any small insect on the leaf, either acci- 

 dentally, or perhaps, mistaking the glittering drops, 

 for some delicious food. Once caught, its destruction 

 is inevitable; of what use the dead fly is to the 

 plant, is not known." Perhaps these glittering " Fly- 

 traps" (as these plants are likewise called), are to 

 teach us this lesson, that what appears " delicious," 

 and beautiful to the sight, may prove to be poisor, 

 or do us some deadly harm ! 



Flora Historica. 



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