secretion from the glandular hairs of Pinguicula certainly dissolves
animal matter.
[Saxifraga umbrosa. The flower-peduncles and petioles of the leaves are
clothed with short hairs, bearing pink-coloured glands, formed of
several polygonal cells, with their pedicels divided by partitions into
distinct cells, which are generally colourless, but sometimes pink. The
glands secrete a yellowish viscid fluid, by
* The distinction between true absorption and mere permeation, or
imbibition, is by no means clearly understood: see Muller s
Physiology, Eng. translat. 1838, vol. i. p. 280. [page 346]
which minute Diptera are sometimes, though not often, caught.* The
cells of the glands contain bright pink fluid, charged with granules or
with globular masses of pinkish pulpy matter. This matter must be
protoplasm, for it is seen to undergo slow but incessant changes of
form if a gland be placed in a drop of water and examined. Similar
movements were observed after glands had been immersed in water for 1,
3, 5, 18, and 27 hrs. Even after this latter period the glands retained
their bright pink colour; and the protoplasm within their cells did not
appear to have become more aggregated. The continually changing forms
of the little masses of protoplasm are not due to the absorption of
water, as they were seen in glands kept dry.
A flower-stem, still attached to a plant, was bent (May 29) so as to
remain immersed for 23 hrs. 30 m. in a strong infusion of raw meat. The
colour of the contents of the glands was slightly changed, being now of
a duller and more purple tint than before. The contents also appeared
more aggregated, for the spaces between the little masses of protoplasm
were wider; but this latter result did not follow in some other and
similar experiments. The masses seemed to change their forms more
rapidly than did those in water; so that the cells had a different
appearance every four or five minutes. Elongated masses became in the
course of one or two minutes spherical; and spherical ones drew
themselves out and united with others. Minute masses rapidly increased
in size, and three distinct ones were seen to unite. The movements
were, in short, exactly like those described in the case of Drosera.
The cells of the pedicels were not affected by the infusion; nor were
297