[14]

(8

on the marginal hairs is ingeniously rolled into the middle of its leaf, — the insect appears almost as if digested by the copious secretion of fluid from the glandular heads of the hairs; — & especially when we see that the leaves have the power of discriminating, if I may use such an expression, the reaction of the object placed on them, I think we must conclude infer this plant growing in [illeg] peaty soil & [words illeg] with very pale rocks ; profits by the juices prey which it catches.—

An author of the article Dionaea in the Penny Encyclopedia states that the leaves of the Dionaea plant "have actually been fed with chopped meat & been found to become more healthy & vigorous in consequence of this artificial stimulus."— Mr M. A. Curtis who carefully observed this remarkable plant in Carolina, states that the (a) has sometimes found insects enough by like leaves crunched or suddenly destroyed by the leaves, but may be freed for he says he has often liberated them the captures "which sped away as fast as fear or joy could hasten them. At other times they are enveloped in a fluid of mucilaginous consistence, which seems to act as a solvent, the insects being more or less consumed by them it."

I did not know of this latter remark statement remark when the causes first struck me.— From these statements we see that the sensitiveness, which in the Drosera is diffused over the whole

[14v]

The stimulus is seen from 6 different points to all parts of leaf by touch & from all parts to parts by [draytor]

 

Boston Journal Nat. Hist.' vol. I 1837 p. 123

He says that the leaves "sometimes close upon straws as well as insects"

[See Insectivorous plants, p. 307.]

[15]

(a)

sensitiveness resides exclusively in these delicate hair-like organs, place on each side fo the leaf; & thus when these are touched, the two sides of the leaf suddenly collapse & enclose their prey. The insects thus caught are not crushed or suddenly

[16]

(9

Substance of the leaf, excepting the footstalk) all together with as well as in all the glandular hairs, in the Dionæa is concentrated in the six hairs. There are It does not appear that the hairs of the Dionæa bend inwards only the sides of the leaf; which [2 words illeg] last & [illeg] surrounds in one two species of Dionæ. The extraordinary capacity of the [illeg] in Dionæa appears also to replace the viscidity of the hairs of Drosera by  which in this plant in this plant the insects are always there first secured. The sudden movement of the leavesof the Dionæa is has generally often been given as one of the most remarkable facts in the vegetable kingdome; As Dionæa & Drosera are placed in the same natural family by several able Botanists, I was led to make the few foregoing observations, from my belief that the most anomolous starting faculties in all organised beings have been produced by the preservation or selection of successive, slight, & advantageous & profitable variations; & we have seen that the habit of catching insects is apparently of benefit to these plants & we have here in the Drosera [2 words illeg] the first and almost incipient, slight & slow power of movement in the limb of the leaf, [illeg] & we have seen that the habit of catching insects is apparently profitable to both plants the Drosera & Dionæa.)

[16v]

I infer, however, from one statement which I have seen tha the movement is ever strongly [illeg] in the India Drosera lunata.—

[See Insectivorous plants, p. 284.]