Drosophyllum lusitanicum.—This rare plant has been found only in
Portugal, and, as I hear from Dr. Hooker, in Morocco. I obtained living
specimens through the great kindness of Mr. W.C. Tait, and afterwards
from Mr. G. Maw and Dr. Moore. Mr. Tait informs me that it grows
plentifully on the sides of dry hills near Oporto, and that vast
numbers of flies adhere to the leaves. This latter fact is well-known
to the villagers, who call the plant the “fly-catcher,” and hang it up
in their cottages for this purpose. A plant in my hot-house caught so
many insects during the early part of April, although the weather was
cold and insects scarce, that it must have been in some manner strongly
attractive to them. On four leaves of a young and small plant, 8, 10,
14, and 16 minute insects, chiefly Diptera, were found in the autumn
adhering to them. I neglected to examine the roots, but I hear from Dr.
Hooker that they are very small, as in the case of the previously
mentioned members of the same family of the Droseraceae.
The leaves arise from an almost woody axis; they [page 333] are linear,
much attenuated towards their tips, and several inches in length. The
upper surface is concave, the lower convex, with a narrow channel down
the middle. Both surfaces, with the exception of the channel, are
covered with glands, supported on pedicels and arranged in irregular
longitudinal rows. These organs I shall call tentacles, from their
close resemblance to those of Drosera, though they have no power of
movement. Those on the same leaf differ much in length. The glands also
differ in size, and are of a bright pink or of a purple colour; their
upper surfaces are convex, and the lower flat or even concave, so that
they resemble miniature mushrooms in appearance. They are formed of two
(as I believe) layers of delicate angular cells, enclosing eight or ten
larger cells with thicker, zigzag walls. Within these larger cells
there are others marked by spiral lines, and apparently connected with
the spiral vessels which run up the green multi-cellular pedicels. The
glands secrete large drops of viscid secretion. Other glands, having
the same general appearance, are found on the flower-peduncles and
calyx.
FIG. 14. (Drosophyllum lusitanicum.) Part of leaf, enlarged seven
times, showing lower surface.
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