228 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



small family of ten species, nine of which are 

 indigenous in the United States, have peculiar 

 radical leaves, which are tubular, or more or less 

 pitcher-like in shape (Fig. 338). A common 

 example is the Pitcher-plant {Sarraeenia purpvr 

 rea), foun4 in peat-bogs and cranberry marshes 

 in the Northern United States. The Pitchers or 

 leaves are partially filled with water, in which 

 insects often fall and from which they cannot 

 readily, or at all, escape, because the inner wall 

 is lined with stiff hairs, pointing downwards. 

 After maceration this animal food is undoubtedly 

 absorbed by the plant, and partially nourishes it. ^* 



29. Nymphaeaceae. The Water- Lily family is also 

 small, containing thirty-five aquatic species, widely dis- 

 tributed. The leaves are generally peltate and floating, 

 and the flowers solitary. The Yellow Water-Lily {Nelum- 

 hium hdeum) and the White Water-Lilies (Nymphcea 



odorata and N. tuberosa) are attractive wild species (Fig. 

 339), but insignificant in size as compared with the Vic- 

 Fig. 338. Leaf of the Pilcher-planl {JSarracenia purpurea). Fig. 839, The 

 White Water-Lily (Nymphiea), 



