. Practical botany. Botany. DISCUSSION OF DEPENDENT PLANTS 387 357. The Venus's-flytrap. In the Venus's-fiytrap, which grows in the sandy regions of eastern North Carolina, the mech- anism for catching insects is still more remarkable. The leaves, as shown in Fig. 315, termmate in a hinged portion which is surrounded by a fringe of stiff bristles. On the in- side of each half of the trap grow three short hairs. The trap is so sensitive that when hairs are touched it cloises rather rapidly, and very generally succeeds in capturing the fly or other insect which has sprung it. The im- pri
. Practical botany. Botany. DISCUSSION OF DEPENDENT PLANTS 387 357. The Venus's-flytrap. In the Venus's-fiytrap, which grows in the sandy regions of eastern North Carolina, the mech- anism for catching insects is still more remarkable. The leaves, as shown in Fig. 315, termmate in a hinged portion which is surrounded by a fringe of stiff bristles. On the in- side of each half of the trap grow three short hairs. The trap is so sensitive that when hairs are touched it cloises rather rapidly, and very generally succeeds in capturing the fly or other insect which has sprung it. The im- prisoned insect then dies and is digested, — some- what as in the case of those caught by the sundew, — after which the trap re- opens, and is ready for fresh captures. 358. Advantages of ani- mal food. It has been claimed that there is an advantage that comes to a good many kinds of plants which catch insects and ab- sorb the digested products. Carnivorous plants belong usually to one of two classes as regards their place of growth ; they are bog plants or air plants. In either case their roots find it difficult to secure much nitrogen-containing food, — that is, much food out of which protein material can be built up. Animal food, being itself largely protein, is admirably adapted to nourish the growing parts of plants, and those which have. Fig. 314. Common pitcher plant [Sarracenia purpurea) At the right one of the pitcher-like leaves is shown in cross section. 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; Caldwell, Otis William, 1869- joint author. Boston, New York [etc. ] Ginn and company
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