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Cressler, Alan

Sarracenia purpurea

Sarracenia purpurea L.

Purple Pitcherplant, Northern Pitcher-plant, Purple Pitcher Plant

Sarraceniaceae (Pitcher-plant Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SAPU4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

A carnivorous plant with a large, solitary, purplish-red flower on a leafless stalk rising above a rosette of bronzy, reddish-green, hollow, inflated, curved leaves.

A striking plant with lipped, pitcher-like leaves that collect water; organisms attracted to the colored lip have difficulty crawling upward because of the recurved hairs and eventually fall into the water and drown. Enzymes secreted by the plant aid in the digestion of the insect but much of the breakdown is passive, a result of bacterial activity. The plant absorbs the nutrients, especially nitrogenous compounds. A southern species, Parrot Pitcher-plant (S. psittacina) has many prostrate "pitchers" with hooked lips like a parrot's bill.

From the Image Gallery

40 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , CA , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Saskatchewan to Labrador and Nova Scotia; south through New England to Florida; west to Texas; north to Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota.
Native Habitat: Sphagnum bogs.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Other Showy Insects
Use Other: This is an insectivorous plant. The pitcher-like leaves hold water into which insects fall. The insects are eventually digested by enzymes released by the plant. (Clough)Wyeomyia smithii and Metriocnemus knabi are obligate inhabitants of the pitcher plants leaves. (Istock 1975)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Mosquito (Wyeomyia smithii) and one species of midge (Metriocnemus knabi)

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Plant identification, green and tube-like
September 18, 2008
LOOKING FOR NAME OF A GREEN TUBE-LIKE PLANT (SHAPED LIKE A CALLA LILY). THE VEINS ARE VISIBLE. MAYBE IN CLUSTER
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL		OBL		OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1996 VOL. 13, NO.2 - Annual Wildflower Days Festival, Wildflower Center Hotline, The Visitor Experien...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sarracenia purpurea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sarracenia purpurea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sarracenia purpurea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-17
Research By: TWC Staff

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