Sarraceniaceae

Taxobox
fossil_range = Early Cretaceous – Recent
name = Sarraceniaceae

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image_width = 200px
image_caption = Purple pitcher plant "Sarracenia purpurea"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ericales
familia = Sarraceniaceae
familia_authority = Dumortier
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =†"Archaeamphora"
"Darlingtonia"
"Heliamphora"
"Sarracenia"

Sarraceniaceae is a family of pitcher plants (along with Nepenthaceae), belonging to order Ericales (previously Nepenthales).

The family comprises three extant genera, "Sarracenia" (American Pitcher Plant, or Trumpet Pitcher), "Darlingtonia" (Cobra Lily or California Pitcher Plant), and "Heliamphora" (Sun Pitcher), as well as the extinct "Archaeamphora longicervia". The first two are native to North America while "Heliamphora" is native to South America. All three are carnivorous plants that lure insects with nectar and use their elongated tube shaped leaves filled with water and digestive enzymes (or bacteria in the case of "Darlingtonia") to catch and consume them. Many species also use downward pointing hairs and waxy secretions to make it difficult for insects to escape.

These plants grow in nutrient-poor, often acidic soil and use the insects as a nutritional supplement. The pitchers originate from a rhizome and die back during the winter dormancy. Plants of the genus Sarracenia occur mostly in sphagnum bogs.

There are several species of American pitcher plants, most having tall, narrow pitchers that are vertical or nearly so. The Purple pitcher plant, however, has short, squat, bulbous pitchers close to the ground, and the Parrot pitcher plant has pitchers that grow horizontally.

The Purple pitcher plant is the official flower of Newfoundland and Labrador.

References

* [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/sarracen.htm Sarraceniaceae] in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.]
* D’Amato, Peter, "The Savage Garden", Berkeley 1998, ISBN 0-89815-915-6