THE NUTRITION OF PLANTS. 



157 



Although plants without chlorophyll cannot manufac- 

 ture carbohydrates, the other processes, proteid manufac- 

 ture, digestion, assimilation, and respiration, are carried on. 

 It is true, however, that in obtaining carbohydrates from 

 other plants and ani- 

 mals, proteids are ob- 

 tained also, so that 

 proteid manufacture 

 is iKit BO prominent as 

 in green plants. 



110. "Carnivorous" 

 plants. — This name has 

 been given to plants 

 which have developed 

 the curious habit of 

 capturing insects and 

 using them for food. 

 They are green plants 

 and , therefore, can man- 

 ufacture carbohydrates. 

 But they live in soil 

 poor in nitrogen com- 

 pounds, and hence pro- 

 teid formation is inter- 

 fered with. The bodies 

 of captured insects sup- 

 plement the proteid 

 supply, and the plants 

 have come to depend 

 upon them. jMany, if 

 not all of these carniv- 

 orous plants, secrete a 

 digestive substance 

 which acts upon the 



bodies of the captured insects very much as the diges- 

 tive substances of the alimentary canal act upon proteids 



Fib. 148. The Califomian pitcher plant {Varling- 

 tofiia)^ showing twisted and winged pitcher, 

 the overarching hood with translucent spots, 

 and the fish-tail appendage to the hood 

 which is attractive to flying insects.— After 

 Keener. 



