. An introduction to vegetable physiology. Plant physiology. OTHEK METHODS UE OBTAINING EOOD 195 are iiiarsli plants lla^â¢ilIg tliyir leaves arranged in rosettes, which spring apparently from the surface of the soil, and from the centre of which arises a single liower-stalk. Each leaf is modilied to form a curious pitcher-like hody (lig. 93), furnished with a kind of lid. The pitchers are generally con- spicuously coloured, while tho lid, which is the lamina of the leaf, often beaa'S hairs which secrete honey to attract the prey. The iimer surface of the pitchers is lined with slippery recurv
. An introduction to vegetable physiology. Plant physiology. OTHEK METHODS UE OBTAINING EOOD 195 are iiiarsli plants lla^â¢ilIg tliyir leaves arranged in rosettes, which spring apparently from the surface of the soil, and from the centre of which arises a single liower-stalk. Each leaf is modilied to form a curious pitcher-like hody (lig. 93), furnished with a kind of lid. The pitchers are generally con- spicuously coloured, while tho lid, which is the lamina of the leaf, often beaa'S hairs which secrete honey to attract the prey. The iimer surface of the pitchers is lined with slippery recurved hairs which make it impossible for an insect to climb out of it after once entering. Insects are attracted by the honey, and, venturing upon these hairs, slip down to the bottom ot the pitcher, from which escape is impossible. The pitcher contains a quantity of water, due perhaps to the entrance of rain, or possibh' secreted to some extent by the surface of the pitcher. The insects become drowned in this liquid and undergo decomposition. Frequently a pitcher will contain so many that the products of their putrefaction are oii'ensive. They are absorbed by the cells of the inner surface. Certain other pitcher-plants show a still fm-ther advance in their method of obtaining protein supphes. They possess similar means of attracting insects and alluring them to their death, but they do not depend on the slow process of putrefaction for tlie decom- position of their prej'. Instead of this, they secrete and pour out a dehnite digestive tluid possessing properties like those of the secretions of the stomach antl pancreas of 13 â ^. Fig. 03.â-Leaf ov Sarriirenia, MOUIEIEU TO F0i:,-\1 A PiTCKEK. (After IvL-nicr.). Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Green, J. Reynolds (Joseph Reynolds), 1848-1914. L
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublisherlondonjachurchill
