THE SUNDEWS. 



25 



The leaves, of which the plant seldom bears more 

 than half a dozen, and often less, are covered on the 

 upper surface with glandular hairs, to which the name 

 " tentacles " has been applied. Of these, from 1 30 to 

 250 have been counted on single leaves. Those in 

 the centre are shortest and erect, becoming longer 

 and more oblique towards the margin. Each tentacle 

 has a hair-like stem, and bears an expanded oblong 

 gland at the apex. This is sur- 

 rounded by a viscid secretion, 

 which imparts the glistening 

 dewy appearance that originated 

 the name. If we remove one of 

 these glands, and cut it down 

 the centre, we shall see that it 

 has an external layer of many- 

 sided cells, which are small and 



filled with pur ple granular con - 

 tents (fig. 2). Beneath this is 

 another layer of different-shaped 



cells, with similar contents. In 



, . . , Fig. 2. — Section of gland 



the centre is a group of elon- ^ Droserarotuud ifolia 



gated cylindrical cells, each magnified, 

 with a spiral fibre winding round within it, and con- 

 taining a limpid fluid. From these spiral cells a 

 spiral vessel runs down through the centre of the 

 stalk or pedicel of the gland. Other and more minute 

 rudimentary hairs are found mixed with the tentacles, 



