6 3 6 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



The most easily procured species are D. binata, which some 

 what resembles D. dichotoma, but is of dwarfer habit and more, 

 highly coloured than the last-named. D. capensis is a most 

 distinct and desirable sort, of compact and pretty growth ; it 

 gets distinctly red under the influence of the sun's rays. 

 D. dichotoma is one of the tallest and most attractive , species in 

 cultivation, and is of good constitution ; it is very pale green. 

 D. filiformis, a distinct and pretty species, does well in the cool 

 frame in winter. D. rotundifolia, a British Species, is most 

 interesting treated as a greenhouse plant. D. spathulata is very 

 distinct, and one of the most desirable species ; it has a close 



and compact 

 habit. When 

 grown in strong 

 light it turns 

 almost red, and 

 is then most in- 

 teresting. 



DlONiEA MUSCI- 



pula. — Of the 

 whole section of 

 Insect ivorous 

 Plants the Dionaea 

 is the most in- 

 teresting (Fig. 

 411). It is 

 familiarly known 

 as Venus's Fly- 

 trap, which popu- 

 lar name isderived 

 from the sensitive- 

 ness set up by an 

 insect or some 

 other small object 

 coming in contact 

 with one or more 

 of the three 

 bristles which are 

 placed in the 

 centre of each 

 lobe of the leaf. Immediately these are touched the outer edges 

 suddenly close up, which prevents the escape of the fly or other 

 insect which may have intruded. This naturally causes the im- 

 prisoned insect to struggle more vigorously to gain its freedom. 

 In so doing it is in constant contact with the sensitive bristles, 

 which causes the sides to become compressed more firmly, 

 until at last the unfortunate insect becomes so wedged that it 

 cannot move, and it ultimately dies from suffocation. Soon after 



Fig. 411. — Dionaea muscipula. 



