SOME CURIOUS PLANTS. 199 



touch from the finger instantly closes and collapses as 

 if fainting ; but it is not of this and others of a similar 

 nature that I wish to remark, but of a few of our native 

 flowers. 



There is the not uncommon shrub, the Berberry, the 

 blossoms of which can easily be tested. If the base 

 of the stamens is touched with a pin or needle they 

 instantly close together. Probably a similar effect is 

 produced by the tongue of the bee or the sucker of a 

 fly. Not only to scatter the pollen dust, but it may be 

 to guard the germen of the flower from injury, this 

 movement of the stamens takes place. 



The same effect seems to be produced in the sensitive 

 organs of the flowers of that pretty shrub known as 

 Dog-bane (Apocynum androscemifolium) or shrubby 

 Milk-weed. The little pink-striped blossoms of this 

 plant seem to be chosen by some species of very small 

 fly as a sleeping place (that is, if flies do sleep). As 

 evening dews begin to fall they resort to the sweet- 

 scented bells for rest or shelter, but are instantly 

 captured by the flower stamens, as may be seen by 

 the closed anther tips. In every bell a tiny prisoner is 

 held fast in the tenacious clasp of the organs of the 

 flower. 



It has been a matter of dispute whether the Pitcher 

 Plant (Sarracenia Purpurea) feeds upon the insects 

 that creep within its hollow tube-like leaves or not. 

 That the insects, flies or beetles, enter either for shelter 



