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Jan 23 /73

external layer & thick mass of very delicate cells, seen with & which alone forms the circular borders of the mushroom. — But this outer mass of cells seem to consist of two kinds, judging from effects of nitrogenous fluids on it — Both rest on a smaller support or framework formed (& this rests on the pedicel) formed of larger cells of from 8─ to 12 or 10 in a number, with much thicker rather zig-zag walls. Within these stronger stronger cells —, a mass of spiriferous cells, or as they seemed in some case to be a diverging mass of branches of the spiral vessels which runs up the pedicel. If they are branches, they are enlarged in diameter & coarser in structure than the tracheæ in pedicel. Anyhow the glands correspond most closely in structure with those of Drosera.— All these characters could be seen in the minute sessile cells glands.

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Drosophyllum

Bits of raw meat & saliva placed on glands on leaves certainly blackened them; but both the darker larger dark purple & paler purple glands of large size. Secretion did not even appear at all increased— this is very odd, for I cannot see how the minute sessile glands can act unless secretion from larger glands is poured on them. — I much suspect plant lives only on very minute insects, & that each 1 or 2 glands alone absorbs what it catches.

Piece of leaf placed in sol. of C. of Ammonia (3 gr to 1 oz w.) blackens darkens instantly, & very soon becomes quite black.

Pieces of leaves leaves placed in human saliva & in weak a weak infusion of raw beef, becomes the purple glands became very much darker in 25' — & in 40' were so dark as almost to deserve to be called, black, but a tinge of red was just visible. They remained of

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The minute sessile glands were affected like the large purple ones}

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of the same tint, perhaps darkening a little, more for 7° (A piece placed in distilled water 9° 45" at the same time, perhaps became a shade darker in 1° 20', but remained of a fine ruby red for 7° — Ultimately after & for 24°. But in another case they became black after long immersion, as as happens with Drosera.)

So we have admirable evidence of absorption of nitrogenous matter. The dark colour is owing to some condensation of the contents of the outermost cells into mulberry-like masses, but chiefly to still more constant segregation of contents of a layer of some inner cells, (not those forming the support) or framework of gland) into almost black matter. These glands afterwards placed in sol. of C. of Ammonia, become green, & the contents of cells became more granular; but cells too small, & too pale & whole too compact opaque for me to see the protoplasmic movements.

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Drosophyllum

The glands which supported a very minute fly, naturally caught, showed more compactness segregation, but in the purp purple contents of the outermost cells, (but not much darker in colour), than the adjoining glands which had caught nothing. —

Jan 24th Pieces of leaves placed in a sol. of N. of Ammonia (3 gr. to 1 oz) were not instantly blackened, but some of the gland became much darkened in 25'; & in 50' much darkened — in 1° 35' very dark red, almost appearing black

Pieces of leaves placed in milk, (which is so effective in causing movement in Drosera) had not the the glands blackened in were first slightly darkened in 1° 20' — after 3° they were very decidedly darkened, & some blackish; but milk not nearly as effective as saliva or weak infusion of raw meat.

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Drosophyllum April 23 1873

Minutest atom of dry C. of Ammonia (weak sol & dry C. of Ammonia (& even plain water after a time) causes purple colour to be instantly discharged, & darkens the minute non-prominent sessile & tall glands) & of The minute atoms of dry C. Amm & of dry meat only acts very differently from in Drosera, for does not cause increased [illeg] secretion from larger glands, but soon, (in one case in 1° 15') causes the reabsorption of secretion, & which perhaps must get even in this short time some animalised matter. — The secretion certainly does not disappear by flowing down the pedicels of tentacles.

That there us absorption is shown by atoms of blue glass & cinders not causing any incr increase of secretion in 2, 4 or 18 hours. The very minute Diptera which are habitually caught in my hot-house get greatly softened & collapsed & sink down

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I looked at one set of glands which had caught min fly, but could not perceive any clear difference from the other glands

The meaning of the quick absorption probably is that flies struggle off soon from any one gland.

The drop of secretion, though viscid, is very easily removed removed from the gland, & thus insect wd crawl crawl a little way off.—

Look whether glands with atom of meat blackened? No

Glands not conspicuously blackened by the atoms of meat

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on to the surface of the leaf. (I observed this carefully) & this wd follow from the little viscidity of the secretion. What Flies being coated with viscid matter from taller glands the animalised secretion would be absorbed by the sessile glands, whether or not these secrete, like those of Dionæa when moistened moistened with animalised matter I cd not decide, but such is probable —

Now At present season the viscid secretion on, all the larger taller glands from form secrete very large drops relatively to size of glands. The drops are so large that when disturbed with needle run down & get smeared over whole surrounding surface. — All All the Diptera, & one minute Staphylinus bathed & wither with secretion. I have no doubt by above view of manner of catching & absorbing animalised matter is correct. —

April 24' 8° A.m. I find this morning morning that the glands which with atoms of dry meat had

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reabsorbed almost all secretion, & now are beginning to secrete again, the meat being still on the gland

The gland with atom of dry C. of Ammonia is now dry & apparently dead. I also put on yesterday on 3 glands a minute drop with pin head of N. of Amm. (3 gr. to 1 oz) & 2° hours afterwards, all absorbed as well as the secretion; but after 14° these glands were beginning to secrete again —

I examined several places where minute Diptera had been caught; in 2 cases most conspicuous difference owing to great segregation of content of glands, but not not blackened. The sessile glands under the little fly & Staphylinus had become coloured purple & differed in most conspicuous manner from those on both sides. — Perhaps in cases in which no such difference, the Diptera had been too long on.—

Difference conspicuous even to under single lens. This very curious appearance is due to walls of outer cells which are zig-zag with proportion became coated on all sides with layer of purple matter, which is soon affected by C. of Ammonia.

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May 25 / 73/

Drosophyllum

After very hot day under C. microscope & single I feel sure the convex slightly prominent colourless glands on surface are dry. The longer glands are have such short footstalk & so much secretion that an minute insect, bedaubed with secretion could not fail to rest on the lower glands. At 2°. 30, moistened a gland with raw meat & the viscid secretion, & put an atom of meat with do on other glands, under damp received on damp blotting paper. At I cd not tell in evening whether these glands had secreted, for entire whole leaf had got damp. It was, however, clear that the glands on long-footstalk, on which I had put atoms of raw meat were darkened by increased segregation. (May 26' 8 A.m. I am now convinced that all the glands, at least all the taller ones, have secreted so much viscid fluid that whole surface of leaf, near bits of meat is flooded with fluid — this perhaps how glands are only absorbents. (over)

[in margin:] May 26th 8 A.m. The segregation in glands which had meat extremely conspicuous

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May 28' I found another leaf, to which nothing had been done with surface in large part covered with fluid.—

It is clear that captured insects would bedew whole surface & smaller glands & there is no need for these to secrete, we know that they absorb.