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Purple Pitcher Plant

The purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) is the most successful Sarracenia due to its vaster range of distribution.

Although they only grow to about 30cm long, they pack a big punch with their digestive enzymes, along with mutualistic microorganisms that aid the plant in digestion (USDA, Rice). Here we have S. purpurea in the process of digesting its latest meal. The stiff downward pointing hairs trap and further prevent the insect from escaping its rain-filled stomach (Rice). This photo was taken in the Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve right here on campus.

 

 

Sources:

The Internation Carnivorous Plant Society

www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq5538.html

 

USDA: Forest Service

www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/sarracenia_pu...

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Uploaded on January 31, 2017
Taken on January 29, 2017