142 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



such as have been examined, even in the dried state, 

 have been found to contain insects. It matters not, 

 even should the bladders be subterranean, their func- 

 tion in all cases is evidently the same, and clearly not 

 to cause the plant to float freely in water when so 

 generally present, even in terrestrial species. 



As long ago as the year 1858, when examining 

 the species of Utricularia systematically, Professor 

 Oliver remarked : " I may be allowed to express my 

 conviction that in the investigation of the develop- 

 ment and general morphology of the bladderworts 

 there is a wide field for extended observation." 1 

 This was followed by an enumeration of no less than 

 twenty-seven species of Indian Utricularia. Subse- 

 quently, the same accomplished botanist published 

 notes upon a number of South American species, two 

 of which are figured with their bladders. 2 There 

 are, indeed, a great number of bladderworts known 

 belonging to Utricularia and allied genera, widely 

 distributed over the globe, and of these nothing is 

 absolutely known of by far the greater number, either 

 of the structure or contents of the bladders or the 

 special habits of the plants themselves. 



Mr. Darwin has examined, under the most un- 



1 Oliver in " Linn. Journ. and Proceed.," iii., p. 174. 

 3 Oliver in "Journ. of Proceedings of Linn. Soc," iv., p. 169, 

 plate 1. 



