198 DROSERACE.E. 



the possibility of their being made subservient to the nourishment of the 

 plant, through an apparatus of absorbent vessels in the leaves. But as I 

 have not examined sufficiently to pronounce on the universality of this result, 

 it will require further observation and experiment on the spot to ascertain 

 its nature and importance. It is not to be supposed, however, that such 

 food is necessary to the existence of the plant, but, like compost, may in- 

 crease its growth and vigor. But however obscure and uncertain may be 

 the final purpose of such a singular organization, if it were a problem to con- 

 struct a plant with reference to entrapping insects, I cannot conceive of a 

 form and organization better adapted to secure that end than are found in 

 the Dionsa muscipula. I therefore deem it no credulous inference, that its 

 leaves are constructed for that specific object, whether insects subserve the 

 purpose of nourishment to the plant or not." * 



PLATES 84,85. Dion.ea muscipula, Ellis; — plant from Wilmington, 

 Dr. Macree, of the natural size. 



1. Diagram of the flower, sestivation, &c. 



2. A sepal ; and 3, a petal, enlarged. 



4. Stamen, with a portion of adjacent filaments united at the base, magni- 



fied ; seen from the inner side. 



5. Anther of the same, seen from the outside. 



6. Pollen-grains (quadruple, as likewise in Drosera), more magnified. 



7. Vertical section of the pistil and receptacle, magnified. 



8. Magnified pistil, entire. 



9. An ovule, much magnified. 



10. Enlarged ripe pod (split into five valves), with the marcescent calyx 



and corolla. 



11. The persistent base of the pod and scrobiculate placenta, after the seeds 



have fallen, seen from above, magnified. 



12. A seed, magnified ; and 13, a vertical section of the same. 



14. Magnified embryo ; and 15, the same seen obliquely from above. 



* Curtis, Cat. PL WUmingl. Jf. Car., in Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. Soc. 1. p. 

 123-125. 



