Plants and their ways in South Africa . tle pressure thatthey curve inward andsmother their hapless vic-tim. A fluid in the purpleheads digests the foodcontaining nitrogen in theinsects body. This is usedby the plant especially inseed-making, although theplants can live without in-sect food. This is whysundews can live in verypoor soil which will sup-port nothing else. TheFig. 276.—Drosera cistijlora, L. gg^us is found in all parts of the world. B. Ovary ylocular ; seed one, pendulous, anthers opening bypores, stamens with a sensitive gland. Roridula is a branched shrubby plant. The tentacles
Plants and their ways in South Africa . tle pressure thatthey curve inward andsmother their hapless vic-tim. A fluid in the purpleheads digests the foodcontaining nitrogen in theinsects body. This is usedby the plant especially inseed-making, although theplants can live without in-sect food. This is whysundews can live in verypoor soil which will sup-port nothing else. TheFig. 276.—Drosera cistijlora, L. gg^us is found in all parts of the world. B. Ovary ylocular ; seed one, pendulous, anthers opening bypores, stamens with a sensitive gland. Roridula is a branched shrubby plant. The tentacles donot curve over its victim as in Drosera. Dr. Marloth has found that the sticky fluid which impalesthe insects does not digest them. This fact, together with thedifferences in habit and in floral structure, possibly entitles itto a position in a separate order. A spider acts as a scavenger for the plants, removing theinsects from the leaves, and is saved the trouble of making aweb. Strangely enough the spider can run where the flies. Classification of Plants 305 would fear to tread if they but knew the doom awaiting still smaller insect lives within the flower and pays forits food by setting off a little spring in the hinged stamen whichflies up and scatters the pollen. Order CRASSULACEiE. Flowers perfect, regular. Sepals and petals 4-7. Petalsseparate or united. Stamens as many or twice as many asthe petals. When more than one whorl, the outer are op-posite the petals, obdiplostemonous. Carpels separate, asmany as the petals, with a honey gland at the base of a group of follicles. Flowers in cymes. The plants aremostly herbs or half shrubs, living in hot, dry climates withthe necessary adaptation for such situations. Water is storedin the stems and leaves. The leaves are often packed closely,as in Crassula pyramidalis, L. (p, 106), and have a waxy, or alime-encrusted surface. The lime attracts and retains moisture. A. Stamens as many as thepetals. Gr
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectplants, bookyear1915
