Ch. III. 10; PLANTS WITHOUT CHLOROPHYLL 87 



which are like^-^i^e hah parasitic upon the roots of other 

 phmts. as in case of our \^ild Purple Gerardia. 



Insect-catching plants do not belong among parasites, 

 because they all make their own food. The insectivorous 



Fig. 62. — The mj-ceUum (threads ramifj-Lng in the ground) and 

 Fporophores (above the surface) of a smaU Puff-baU : X 5. 



habit is connected only Trith the acquisition of nitrogen 

 compounds, as ■nill later appear. 



Finally, there is one other very distinct method of plant 

 nutrition. Certain Bacteria vrhich hve in the soil have 

 power to make their ov.ti food from carbon ilioxide and water 

 entirely -ndthout sunlight, the necessary energy- for the pro- 

 cess being derived from chemical energy," set free by the 

 oxidation of substances in the soil. The process is thus 

 naturally designated chemosyxthesis in distinction from 

 photosT.iithesis. TVhiie occurring at present, so far as known, 

 in onlv one group of Bacteria, the method has great interest 

 for the reason that it suggests a way in which plants may 

 have made their food in the far-distant times before chloro- 



