. Elements of botany. Botany. ECOLOGY OF LEAVES 121 petiole. On the inner surface and round tlie margin of the blade (Fig. 85) are borne a considerable numljer of short bristles, each terminating in a knob which is covered with a clear, sticky liquid. When a small insect touches one of the sticky knobs, he is held fast and the hairs at once begin to close over him, as shown in Fig-. 86. Here he soon dies and then usually remains for man}' days, while the leaf pours out a juice by which the soluble parts of the insect are digested. The liquid containing tlie digested portions is then absorbed b
. Elements of botany. Botany. ECOLOGY OF LEAVES 121 petiole. On the inner surface and round tlie margin of the blade (Fig. 85) are borne a considerable numljer of short bristles, each terminating in a knob which is covered with a clear, sticky liquid. When a small insect touches one of the sticky knobs, he is held fast and the hairs at once begin to close over him, as shown in Fig-. 86. Here he soon dies and then usually remains for man}' days, while the leaf pours out a juice by which the soluble parts of the insect are digested. The liquid containing tlie digested portions is then absorbed by the leaf and contributes an important part of the nourishment of the plant, while the un- digested frasfments, such as legs, wing-cases, and so on, remain on tlie surface of the leaf or may drop off after the hairs let go their hold on the captive insect. In the Venus' flytrap, which grows in the sandy regions of eastern Xorth Carolina, the mechanism for catching insects is still more remarkable. The leaves, as shown in Fig. 87, terminate in a hinged portion which is surrounded by a fringe of stiff bristles. On the inside of each half of the trap grow three short hairs. The trap is so sensitive that when these hairs are touched it closes rather rapidly. Fig. 87. Venus' 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 Bergen, Joseph Y. (Joseph Young), 1851-1917. Boston, Ginn
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