Northern Pitcher Plant

Sarracenia purpurea

Northern Pitcher Plants have a sleek shape that widens at the top, looking like a serving dish you may find on a table at a fine restaurant. But these plants are not serving a meal, they’re looking for one!

Habitat 

Look for Northern Pitcher Plants in bogs and fens across Canada, and around the world.

Food 

Like other plants, Northern Pitchers Plants have roots to absorb minerals and nutrients from the soil and leaves for photosynthesis. However, they supplement this with insects they digest.

Behaviour  

The water and soil in the bog and fen homes of Northern Pitcher Plants is low in nutrients and minerals. To overcome this, they have modified leaves that form a pitfall trap. Insects are attracted by nectar the plant produces, and the colour on the leaves.  The tip of the leaves is slippery, and insects fall inside to a liquid, where they drown. Their bodies then dissolve, and the plant absorbs the minerals and nutrients. Sometimes microorganisms in the base liquid aid in dissolving the prey. Northern Pitcher Plants are flowering plants and the flowers are harmless to pollinators, like bees. The seeds produced spread for new plants to grow.

Conservation  

In Canada, Northern Pitcher Plants are overall stable and of low conservation concern. Their biggest threats come from habitat loss, due to wetland drainage and activities like peat harvesting.

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