File:The natural history of plants, their forms, growth, reproduction, and distribution; (1902) (14783410625).jpg

Identifier: naturalhistoryof01kern (find matches)
Title: The natural history of plants, their forms, growth, reproduction, and distribution;
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Kerner von Marilaun, Anton, 1831-1898 Oliver, Francis Wall, 1864- Macdonald, Mary Frances Ewart Busk, Marian Balfour, Lady
Subjects: Botany
Publisher: London, Blackie
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries

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a. This expanded section of the leaf-stalk passes next intoa part which is terete and coiled like a snake, and acts as a tendril. Every stem orbranch belonging to a plant, whether living or dead, with which this part of thepetiole comes into contact, is seized and encircled by it; and the third portion ofthe petiole, i,e. the pitcher, being situated at the extremity of this clasping portion,IS thus slung upon the branch of some other plant growing at the edge of a poolof water. Meanwhile the Nepenthes plant rises higher and higher above the wetsoil where its seeds germinated and the young rosette rested, becomes entangledwith the ramifications of the underwood and with prostrate branches of trees ofthe primeval forest; in a word, with everything available as a support, and so notinfrequently climbs, as a true liane, to the tops of trees of moderate height. The pitcher must be looked upon as an excavated portion of the petiole, and PLANTS WITH TRAPS AND PITFALLS TO ENSNARE ANIMALS. 133
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134 PLANTS WITH TRAPS AND PITFALLS TO ENSNARE ANIMALS. what appears to be the lid of the pitcher is the lamina, as it is in Cephalotiis andthe Sarracenias. In this case also the lamina seems to be but little developed incomparison with the wonderfully metamorphosed petiole. In the majority of thespecies of Nepenthefi, the mature pitchers are from 10 cm. to 15 cm. in height. Inthe graceful Nepenthes ampullaria they are only from 4 cm. to 6 cm. high; but,on the other hand, in the species indigenous to the primeval forests of Borneo theyreach a height of 30 cm. or even more. The pitchers of Nepenthes Rajah have aheight of 50 cm., and their orifices are 10 cm. in diameter, whilst below the orificethey expand to 16 cm.; so that if a pigeon were to fly into a pitcher of this kindit would be completely hidden in it. Immature pitchers are still closed by theircovers. Often they are hairy outside; and, according to the colour and lustre ofthe hairs, they may be rusty in tone or glittering like

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