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Sarracenia purpurea L.

Purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassCaryophyllidaeCacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
OrderNepenthalesCarniverous (or more precisely insectiverous) plants
FamilySarraceniaceaePitcher plant (bug-eating plants) family
GenusSarraceniaFor early 18th century physician Dr. Michel Sarrasin
SpeciespurpureaFrom Greek for “purple”

About plant names...

Purple pitcher plants, so named for their pitcher-like structures, are among very few plants that are carnivorous (technically “insectivorous,” but “carnivorous” sounds way more dramatic). The "pitchers," which contain rainwater scented to attract insects, are ringed with slippery, downward-pointing hairs. Unwary insects fall into the watery fluid, and are digested by enzymes and bacteria. This clever trick allows pitcher plants to thrive in bogs which are severely deficient in nutrients. Pitcher plants are North American natives. For information on this and other insectivorous bog-dwelling species, see Field Trip Through a Maine Raised Bog.

Identification: These plants are unmistakable. They are only found in bogs. Pitcher plant leaves form a rosette that remains near the ground. The "pitchers" arise vertically, open on the top, partially covered by a hoodlike structure. Leaves may be yellow-green (with deep red veins), red, or dark purple. Flowers rise on tall leafless stems up to 2′ (60 cm) in height, nodding over and hanging downward. They are glossy and rose pink to dark red. The flowers inside are white, with yellow stamens, but are difficult to see from above.

Online References:

The Carnivorous Plant FAQ, courtesy of the International Carnivorous Plant Society

Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

The Botanical Society of America

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

9/16/2016 · Sieur de Monts Botanical Gardens, Bar Harbor, Maine

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 23 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

7/24/2010 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

9/16/2016 · Sieur de Monts Botanical Gardens, Bar Harbor, Maine

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3½ × 2½′ (116 × 77 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, Cali­fornia ID is uncertain

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

The sparse-leaved vines are Vaccinium oxycoccos, small cranberry. · 8/22/2020 · Kettle Hole Bog, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, Maine · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

8/22/2020 · Kettle Hole Bog, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, Maine · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

 

Sarracenia purpurea description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.

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Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, Cali­fornia ID is uncertain

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, Cali­fornia ID is uncertain

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

At far left, there is some sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) · 8/22/2020 · Kettle Hole Bog, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

8/22/2020 · Kettle Hole Bog, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, Maine · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

9/16/2016 · Sieur de Monts Botanical Gardens, Bar Harbor, Maine

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

7/24/2010 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

8/17/1997 · Nova Scotia, Canada

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant, American pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant)

7/24/2010 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm)

Range:

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