SOME CURIOUS PLANTS. 201 



umbrella-shaped body, elegantly scalloped at the edges 

 and covering the floral organs, adding greatly to the 

 beauty of the flower. 



All the parts of the flower are in fives — petals, sepals 

 and valves of the seed vessel. The root is thick and 

 fleshy, the hollow leaves beautifully veined with bright 

 crimson ; the lip or mouth of the leaves is scalloped and 

 the interior fringed with stiff, silvery hairs. 



Following the inner part of each leaf runs a membrane 

 like a flap. This curious appendage, being shorter than 

 the outside curve of the leaf, throws the hollow mouth 

 into the right position for receiving and retaining the 

 water with which the pitcher is generally half filled. 



In some species of this most interesting order of plants 

 there is a natural lid which probably answers the same 

 purpose. In some the urn or pitcher is a prolongation 

 of the leaf, and is suspended by a tendril. The flower, 

 which is distinct from the curious hollow leaf, fades 

 quickly and bears an abundance of seed. The whole 

 plant is singular in all its parts, and is a sight to be 

 admired. 



