RANALE8. 



557 



covered by a hood much as in Nepentlies (page 483), and in these water 

 is also found (undoubtedly a secretion in these cases) in which are many 

 decaying' insects. Moreover, in these and some other species drops of a 

 sweetish honey-like substance are secreted on the leaves, which appar. 

 €ntly serve to lure insects to the margin of the pitcher. 



The California Pitcher Plant (Dirlingtonia Oa ifarnica) of the north- 

 «rn part of California, has long tubular leaves which are arched over at 



Fio. B47. 

 the top, so that the ori- 

 fice opens downward ; 

 from the orifice there 

 hangs down a forked 

 blade, which is more or 

 less covered with a 

 sweet secretion, and 

 within the tube there is 

 always found water 

 more or less filled with 

 insects. The arrange- 

 ment here is evidently 

 one well fitted to cap- 

 ture insects, which, 

 after maceration, are 

 absorbed for the 

 nourishment of the 

 -Pistil cut vertically. — ^From Le Maout and plant. 



The third genus, 

 SeliaTnphora, contaius a single species, native of Venezuela. 



604. — Cohort XXXVI. Banales. — Flowers mostly actino- 

 morphic ; stamens rarely definite ; carpels free^ very rarely 

 connate ; seeds with copious endosperm. 



Order Nymphseaceas. — The Water Lily Family. Aquatic herbs, 

 with usually floating peltate leaves ; flowers solitary, monocliuous ; 

 petals and stamens generally numerous ; carpels mostly united, rarely 

 free. Species thirty-five, widely distributed. 



Pigr- 546. — Flower and leaves of Soirracenia purpwrea, 

 H natural size.— From Le Maout and Decaisne. 



Fig. 647.- " 

 -Decaisne. 



