CARNIVOROUS PLANTS. 
363 
of the inner surface of the bladders, and consist of four, less 
often of two, divergent arms or cells. The mode in which they 
act is not clear ; but it is demonstrated that they possess the 
faculty of absorbing nitrogenous matter, salts of ammonia, or 
infusion of meat. Bodies of a somewhat similar character were 
observed by Mr. Darwin in the case of Aldrovanda , where he 
at one time conjectured that they performed the function of 
absorbing the indigestible portion of the food. I can scarcely 
doubt that they are homologous with the bodies described by 
me as “ ganglia ” in Drosera , and especially in Pinguicula , the 
function of which is at present unknown. May they not be 
rudimentary “ quadrifids ” ? 
A very remarkable species of bladderwort, U. montana , a 
native of tropical South America, is not aquatic, but is said to 
be epiphytic. The bladders, which are extremely minute, are 
borne on the underground thread-like rhizomes, and are produced 
in extraordinary numbers. They are closed by a valve on which 
are a number of minute glands, and bear internally rows of short, 
thick, quadrifid processes : and apparently capture and detain 
a number of minute insects, on which the plant feeds. This is 
the only species of Utricular ia which is not aquatic or a 
native of marshes. U. nelumbifolia has the very singular habit 
of growing in the water which collects in the bottom of the 
leaves of a large Tillandsia , inhabiting an arid rocky part of 
the Organ Mountains, Brazil, at an elevation of 5,000 ft. above 
the sea. It propagates itself by runners, which direct themselves 
towards the nearest plant of Tillandsia. 
Polypompholyx is a native of Western Australia, and Genlisea 
of Brazil. In this last genus some of the leaves are elongated 
into a very narrow cylinder, half an inch to an inch in length, 
in the middle of which is a minute swelling or tubercle, in 
which organic matter is found. The neck of the cylinder is 
furnished with rows of bristles attached to ridges and pointing 
downwards, which would effectually prevent the escape of any 
insect that may descend the neck into the utricle, and with a 
number of quadrifid cells or processes, very closely resembling 
those already described in Pinguicula , the function of which 
can only be conjectured. 
The order Nepenthacese comprises the single genus Nepenthes , 
which includes a considerable number of species, mostly natives 
of the East Indies and Australasia, and well known in hot-houses 
in this country as 44 Pitcher-plants.” The pitcher consists partly 
of the leaf-stalk and partly of the blade of the leaf, and con- 
tains in its lower portion, to the depth of an inch or more, a 
fluid which was formerly believed to be nearly pure and potable 
water ; but analysis shows it to contain in solution a consider- 
able proportion of mineral salts. Buried in this fluid is fire- 
