400 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



SarraceniacecB consists of eight species of Sarracenia and one* 

 each of Darlingtonia and Heliamphora. Sarracenia, or the 

 American Pitcher-plant, has funnel-shaped leaves, which are 

 radical and collected into tufts. The leaves, or pitchers, are of 

 two forms — one having the lid standing erect, allowing rain 

 to enter freely, as in S. purpurea ; the other having the lid pro- 

 jecting over the mouth of the pitcher, thus preventing rain from 

 falling into it, as in S. variolaris. The internal structure of the 

 pitchers, inmost species, is like that of Nepenthes. The under- 

 surface of the lid and the mouth of the pitcher are studded over 

 with honey-secreting glands, forming the " attractive " surface* 

 Occupying the upper part of the inner surface of the pitcher 

 proper, and extending some distance down its cavity, is the 

 " conducting " surface. In this each epidermal cell is prolonged 

 downwards into a short, glassy, sharp-pointed hair, which 

 is finely striated. These hairs overlap like the tiles of a 

 house, and they thus afford no foothold to insects. The 

 whole of the cavity of the pitcher below the conducting 

 surface is occupied by the " detentive " surface. In this many 

 of the epidermal cells are prolonged into enormously elongated 

 downward directed hairs, which increase in length towards the 

 bottom of the pitcher ; and as the cavity diminishes in width 

 they meet in the centre, and thus completely prevent the escape 

 of any insect which may have been lured into it. Numerous 

 secreting glands are embedded in the detentive surface. 

 Insects are induced to visit the honey secretion of the lid and 

 mouth of the pitcher, and are thus led on to the conducting 

 surface. This affords no foothold, and they glide down till they 

 reach the detentive surface, when, once among the hairs of this 

 part of the pitcher, there is no possibility of returning, their 

 struggles only serving to wedge them deeper and more firmly. 

 The liquid contained in the pitchers is not distinctly acid, and 

 does not show digestive properties very markedly, but it wets an 

 insect much more rapidly than water, causing it to die of 

 asphyxia. The liquid product of decomposition is probably 

 taken up by the roots of the plant. 



The flower of Sarracenia is very remarkable. In spring 

 the plant sends up long slender stalks, each of which bears a 

 solitary flower. The style terminates in an umbrella-like expan- 

 sion. This is five-lobed, the stigmatic surface being situated 



