128 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. Cuar. VI 
much inflection ; on the contrary, this served to a certain extent 
as a protection to the seeds. Two of the six seeds germinated 
whilst still lying on the leaves, but the seedlings, when trans- 
ferred to damp sand, soon died ; of the other four seeds, only one 
germinated. 
Two seeds of musiard (Sinapis nigra), two of celery (Apiuin 
graveolens)—both of the previous year, two seeds well soaked of 
caraway (Caruwm carut), and two of wheat, did not excite the 
leaves more than inorganic objects often do. Five seeds, hardly 
ripe, of a buttercup (Ranunculus), and two fresh seeds of Ane- 
mone nemorosa, induced only a little more effect. On the other 
hand, four seeds, perhaps not quite ripe, of Carex sylvatica caused 
the leaves on which they were placed to be very strongly in- 
flected; and these only began to re-expand on the third day, 
one remaining inflected for seven days. 
It follows from these, few facts that different kinds of seeds 
excite the leaves in very different degrees; whether this is 
solely due to the nature of their coats is not clear. In the case 
of the cress seeds, the partial removal of the layer of mucus 
hastened the inflection of the tentacles. Whenever the leaves 
remain inflected during several days over seeds, it is clear that 
they absorb some matter from them. That the secretion pene- 
trates their coats is also evident from the large proportion of 
cabbage, raddish, and cress seeds which were killed, and from 
several of the seedlings being greatly injured. This injury to 
the seeds and seedlings may, however, be due solely to the acid 
of the secretion, and not to any process of digestion; for Mr. 
Traherne Moggridge has shown that very weal acids of the 
acetic series are highly injurious to seeds. It never occurred 
to me to observe whether seeds are often blown on to the viscid 
leaves of plants growing in a state of nature; but this can 
hardly fail sometimes to occur, as we shall hereafter see in the 
case of Pinguicula. If so, Drosera wil! profit to a slight degree 
by absorbing matter from such seeds. 
Summary and Concluding Remarks on the Digestive 
Power of Drosera. 
When the glands on the disc are excited either 
by the absorption of nitrogenous matter or by 
mechanical irritation, their secretion increases in 
quantity and becomes acid. They likewise transmit 
