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(Fig. 76). These glands excrete a sticky fluid im which insects 
become entangled when they come in contact with the leaf. 

Fig. 75. Drosera, a carnivorous plant. 
(X 3) 
the two valves to close together. 
After an insect has been cap- 
tured in this manner, the leaf 
incloses it while the glands 
excrete a fluid which digests 
the insect. The digested ma- 
terial is then absorbed by the 
leaf. 
The Venus’s-flytrap (Dvo- 
naea muscipula) is also a 
small rosette plant (Fig. 77). 
The petiole is expanded into 
a bladelike structure which 
serves for photosynthesis. 
The blade is specially fitted 
for capturing insects. It con- 
sists of two valves, each of 
which bears upon its upper 
surface three short, rather 
stiff bristles. Mechanical con- 
tact with these bristles causes 
When an insect alights on 
the blade and brushes against these bristles, the leaf closes and 

Fig. 76. Leaves of Drosera. (Redrawn after Darwin) 
thus entraps the insect. The glands on the surface of the blade 
then excrete a fluid which digests the insect, after which the 
digested material is absorbed and 
the leaf opens. 
