1893.) Recent Studies of Carnivorous Plants. 419 
Ist. Thatthe secretion of Nepenthes does not contain any 
pepsin and that Nepenthes is not an insectivorous plant. 
2d. That the phenomenon of disintegration, called “ diges- 
tion” by Hooker, was without doubt due to the presence of 
micro-organisms and not to the secretions of the plant itself. 
The author finds that the results of his various experiments 
show that all the disintegration of nitrogenous substances by 
the leaves of insectivorous plants is directly dependent upon the 
presence of certain lower organisms, principally bacteria, in 
the secretions of the plants. 
The secretion contains bacteria of many different species, 
micrococei and rod-shapes, and sometimes the mycelia of 
moulds or other fungi. It is evident that most of these orga- 
nisms are carried into the cups by the air, though some may 
be washed in by rain drops or carried on the bodies of insects. 
The solution of albuminous compounds commences simulta- 
neously with the development of great numbers of micro- 
organisms in the secretion. 
The secretion of the leaves of insectivorous plants is not 
analogous to the gastric juice of the higher animals. It is 
only a medium in which bacteria may live and develop 
while they are breaking up nitrogenous organic insoluble 
compounds and preparing them for assimilation by the plant. 
It will not be uninteresting to present a table showing the 
chemical composition of the secretion of various Nepenthes 
species. The calcium and magnesium are in composition 
with malic and citric acids. 
Malic acid and a trace of citric acid 38.61% 
Potassium chloride (Chlorkalium) 50.42 
Sodium carbonate 6.36 
Calcium 2.59 
Magnesium 2.59 
Organic matter—a trace 
100.57. 
There are no free acids in the liquid, though Dr. Turner in 
1828 reported a trace of oxalic acid. 
