1887. | BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 26g} 
rounding the stalks, which most of the time contain more or less water. 
It has been suggested that the purpose of this arrangement is to catch 
insects for the nutrition of the plant. 
A microscopical examination of the leaf surface was made, to discover, 
if possible, any peculiar organs of absorption. Especially was that por- 
tion of the leaf explored that is much of the time beneath the water in 
the cups. On this portion of the leaf were found two forms of hairs. 
The more numerous were about .09 mm. long, with a club shaped upper 
portion upon a pedicel composed of a single cell. The upper part was- 
composed of about five nucleated cells; it was broader than thick, and 
seemed to be divided by a partition across the narrow way. These hairs 
were all inclined toward the tip of the leaf with the broad side toward 
the leaf surface, and were not very numerous. The rarer form of hairs. 
had a rounded head upon a pedicel of a single cell. The head was divided 
into a number of cells which contained no visible nuclei, but were gen- 
erally filled with brownish-green masses of granular matter. 
Other portions of the leaf were also examined, and upon the whole 
upper surface along the mid vein, side veins and veinlets, were found 
hairs similar in form to these and equally numerous. They were also- 
found on the corresponding portions of the under surface of the leaf. 
_ So far as special organs of absorption are concerned, that part of the leaf 
below the surface of the water shows no advantage over any other part. 
Twenty plants were watched carefully for two weeks, and during 
that time but few insects were caught, and those were mainly bees; the 
_Dipsacus depends mainly on the rain for its water supply ’ and sh 
little upon the dew. Some cups were thoroughly emptied, and os Hahase 
found that after a heavy dew there would be a little water In the as 
This would tend to replace that lost by evaporation, but this loss is slig 
