267 
Dischidia rafflesiana ( Wall .). 
slightest support to the theories either of carnivorous or 
myrmecophilous habit. There is no provision either for- 
attracting or detaining insects. The numerous glands which 
are present are all merely organs belonging to the bud, and 
have perished long before the pitchers begin to be functional. 
From Treub’s observations at Buitenzorg, it would appear 
that the presence of insects in the pitchers is very inconstant. 
Beccari’s theory that the pitchers may be of the nature of 
galls receives no support from our observations, for the young 
pitchers developed quite normally at Kew, and no insects 
were found in them at any stage. It is beyond our province 
to discuss Beccari’s gratuitous hypothesis of hereditary gall- 
formations. 
Treub, as we have mentioned, takes the view that the 
pitchers serve to collect rain-water, and in a less degree to 
economize the water of transpiration. He also thinks that 
when detritus is washed by rain into the pitchers, it may be 
available as a supply of food. 
We agree with the views of Treub. The upright pitchers, 
which we ourselves had an opportunity of observing in the 
specimen at Kew, can have no other function than to store up 
the water given off as vapour in transpiration. We have 
shown, on anatomical evidence, that the inner surface of the 
pitcher is the chief transpiring surface of the plant. The 
condensed water of transpiration is undoubtedly re-absorbed 
by the roots. 
The obvious function of the pendent pitchers as catch- 
reservoirs of rain-water requires no further explanation. 
We are disposed to attach considerable importance to the 
detritus in the pitchers. It was abundantly present in all the 
older pitchers which we observed, and the rootlets had directed 
their growth so as to make the greatest possible use of it. 
The behaviour of the root-hairs proves that the humus is 
actually used as a food-supply. We regard the function of 
soil-collectors or £ natural flower-pots ’ as by no means the 
least, perhaps rather the most important of those performed, 
at any rate by the pendent pitchers. 
