332 DROSOPHYLLUM LUSITANiCUN. Cuar. XV 
CHAPTER XV. 
DrosopHyLLumM — RoripuLa — Bysiis— GLANDULAR HAIRS OF OTHER 
PLants— Conciupinc Remarks on THE DrosERACER. 
Drosophyllum — Structure of leaves— Nature of the secretion —Man- 
ner of catching insects — Power of absorption — Digestion of animal 
substances — Summary on Drosophyllum — Roridula — Byblis — 
Glandular hairs of other plants, their power of absorption — Saxi- 
fraga — Primula — Pelargonium — Erica — Mirabilis — Nicotiana 
— Summary on glandular hairs — Concluding remarks on the Dro- 
seracese. 
DROSOPHYLLUM LUSITANICUM.—This rare plant has 
been found only in Portugal, and, as I hear from 
Dr. Hooker, in Morocco. I obtained living specimens 
through the great kindness of Mr. W. C. Tait, and 
afterwards from Mr. G. Maw and Dr. Moore. Mr. Tait 
informs me that it grows plentifully on the sides of 
dry hills near Oporto, and that vast numbers of flies 
adhere to the leaves. This latter fact is well known 
to the villagers, who call the plant the “ fly-catcher,” 
and hang it up in their cottages for this purpose. A 
plant in my hot-house caught so many insects during 
the early part of April, although the weather was 
cold and insects scarce, that it must have been in 
some manner strongly attractive to them. On four 
leaves of a young and small plant, 8, 10, 14, and 
16 minute insects, chiefly Diptera, were found in the 
autumn adhering to them. I neglected to examine 
the roots, but I hear from Dr. Hooker that they are 
very small, as in the case of the previously men- 
tioned members of the same family of the Droseracee. 
The leaves arise from an almost woody axis; thev 
