262 



OUTLINES OF PLANT LIFE. 



hold to an insect attempting to crawl out ; or covered by 

 stiff, downward-pointing hairs to oppose its passage ; or the 

 side of the tube is filled with thin translucent spots through 

 which the captives vainly strive to fly, while the real opening 



is concealed. By one or 

 other of these means the 

 prey is prevented from 

 escaping, and sooner or 

 later is drowned in the 

 liquid. In this liquid di- 

 gestive substances or bac- 

 teria quickly dissolve the 

 softer parts of the insect 

 bodies, and the soluble 

 portions are absorbed by 

 the leaf. 



(3) The bladderwort, 

 which abounds in quiet 

 pools, furnishes an excel- 

 lent illustration of traps 

 (figs. 221, 222). Upon 

 the leaves are numerous 

 minute bladders, each with 

 a small opening about 



Fig, 220.— ^ , trumpet-shaped sessile leaf of Sar- which divergent hairs serve 



1 trance, 

 entrance is lightly 



yacenia iiariolaris^ showing thin membran- 



oft: 



ous windows in the meshes of the veins of the aS guideS tO the entrance. 



hood which arches over the mouth of the 



trumpet. B^ cup-shaped petioled leaf of Ne- The 



petithes villosa,^ with elevated lid and margin 



ribbed. One-third natural size.— After Kerner. closed by a flap of mem- 

 brane, which is readily lifted by minute water animals. 

 After they have passed through the opening the membrane 

 drops behind them, and is stiff enough to prevent their 

 escape. Death ensues sooner or later, and absorbing hairs 

 on the inner face of the trap take up the nutritive ma- 

 terials. 



