Sarracenia alata
(Pitcherplant)
Sarracenia alata, Scrappin’ Valley, Newton Co. 3819
Sarracenia alata, Scrappin’ Valley, Newton Co. 3812
Sarracenia alata, Scrappin’ Valley, Newton Co. 3810
| Scientific Name | Sarracenia alata | USDA PLANTS Symbol | SAAL4 |
| Common Name | Pitcherplant, Yellow Trumpets | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 36776 |
| Family | Sarraceniaceae (Pitcher Plant) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Wet, acidic, nutrient-poor soils in long-leaf pine forests and savannas, bogs and seepage slopes. Plant: Erect carnivorous (insects) perennial, up to 27 inches tall, often in colonies. Leaves: Tubular leaves are trumpet-shaped becoming wider upward forming a "pitcher" partially covered with an ovate to nearly round hood; leaf surfaces have reddish veins. Inflorescence: Large drooping yellow-green flowers up to 3-1/2 inches wide atop scapes that are about the same height as pitchers; flowers have 5 sepals, 5 petals and numerous stamens. Bloom Period: March and April. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll, Johnston, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason and Botanical Society of America. Note: S. alata is a very interesting plant in that it does not depend on soil for nutients, rather insects that find their way into the pitcher and cannot escape the liquid containing digestive juices within. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024