Pitcher Plants   GENUS Sarracenia

Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa

This species S. purpurea has by far the widest distribution of all eastern North American pitcher plants, extending its territory all the way north into a large part of Canada. The species has well-recognized subspecies: S. purpurea ssp. venosa in the southern range and S. purpurea ssp. purpurea in the north, which covers the majority of the entire distribution. The plants produce decumbent, bulbous pitcher leaves no longer than a foot. The pitcher color ranges from deep red to light green. A short, xxxx pitcher has a lid growing vertically with an undulating margin. The lid offers little protection from falling rain water, and the pitchers are often seen filled with water to the rim in nature. Flowering starts in mid-March in the southern range. Short flower scapes (up to 30 cm) support a single, dangling flower.  

Wavy hood margins of the plant with deep red coloration. White, downward-pointing hairs on the inner surface of the hood are clearly visible.

 An insect's-eye view of the pitcher, looking up from within the pitcher tube. A vertical wall of wavy hood grows into the blue sky. Numerous, short, downward-pointing hairs cover the inner surface of the red-veined hood where nectar is offered for visiting insects. One precareless step leads to a dire consequence for a xxx diner.

This underwater photography shows a local ants drowning in the deadly pool of a S. purpurea pitcher. Compared with other taller species of pitcher plants, the low-lying posture of the pitcher of S. purpurea tends to attract crawling creatures such as ants.

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