PllANBROQAMlA. 



275 



are soon dissolved by it, and then absorbed by the plant 

 for its nourishment. ' 



56 1. An Australian plant related to the Saxifrages pro- 

 duces remarkable pitchers. It is a low plant with a rosette 

 of leaves upon the ground; some of these resemble the 

 covered pipes used by many Frenchmen (Fig. 162). The 

 border of the pitcher is incurved and presents an obstacle 

 to the egress of insects, which are no doubt thus captured. 



Fia. 152. — Leaves of Australian Pitcher-plant (Cephalotus). Natural size. 



552. There is a close connection between the ornamental 

 value of a plant and the perfection of its flower as a mech- 

 anism to secure pollination by means of insects. In other 

 words, those things in a flower which are attractive to in- 

 sects are, as a rule, attractive to us also. Thus the large, 

 brightly-colored perianth and the sweet scent of the wild 

 rose, which serve to secure the visits of insects, are like- 

 wise attractive to us. 



553. The Apetalse are thus of low ornamental value in 

 so far as their flowers are concerned. The Gamopetalae 



