Sarracenia oreophila

Perennial, carnivorous herb with large tubular or pitcher-shaped leaves. The hollow leaves contain liquid and digestive enzymes that enable the plant to breakdown insects into nutrients, which are gradually absorbed into the plant's tissues. Flowers are pendent with five yellow petals that are borne singly on long, leafless stems.

Historically, the distribution of Sarracenia oreophila spanned five different geographical provinces: the Cumberland Plateau, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, Ridge and Valley, and East Gulf Coastal Plain (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985). The present distribution of S. oreophila is restricted to the Cumberland Plateau, Blue Ridge, and Ridge and Valley provinces (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985), with known, extant populations in northeastern Alabama (Jackson, Marshall, DeKalb, Cherokee and Etowah Counties), northeastern Georgia (Towns county) and adjacent North Carolina (Clay County) (Humphrey 1987).

Three distinct habitat types have been described for S. oreophila. They are sandstone streambanks, with 13 extant colonies in the Cumberland Plateau; mixed oak or pine flatwoods, with 5 extant colonies in the Cumberland Plateau; and seepage bogs, with 5 extant colonies in the Cumberland, 2 colonies in the Blue Ridge, and 2 colonies in the Ridge and Valley provinces (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985). The soils in all of these habitats are sandy and highly acidic. Woodland and bog soils are sandy clays and loams with an upper layer of organic material, while the streambank soils are composed almost purely of sand (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985). All of these habitats exhibit generally moist soil conditions, but S. oreophila does not grow in areas where flooding is regular and the soils are continually saturated (Troup and McDaniel 1980). Within the bog habitat, the green pitcher plants grow away from the wet slough (Troup and McDaniel 1980; S. Benjamin and T. Govus, pers. observ.), and along stream banks, the pitchers occur about two feet above the average summer water level (Troup and McDaniel 1980).

Within one bog habitat (Eller Preserve in North Carolina), species associated with the population of green pitcher plants include the following northern and coastal plain bog plants: Sanguisorba canadensis, Eriophorum virginicum, Utricularia cornuta, Eryngium integrifolia, and Helianthus angustifolius (Govus 1986). In addition, several woody species native to wet habitats are also found in this bog, including Alnus serrulata, Lyonia ligustrina, Aronia arbutifolia, and Rosa palustris (Govus 1986). Species associated with S. oreophila in the flatwoods habitat include Pinus palustris, Quercus spp., Rhododendron nudiflorum, Vaccinium fuscatum, Osmunda regalis, Osmunda cinnamomea, Rubus spp. Smilax spp., Liquidambar styraciflua, Xyris sp., Drosera leucantha, and Symplocos tinctoria (Troup and McDaniel 1980). Species found with S. oreophila along streambanks include Alnus serrulata, Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron spp., Osmunda spp., Smilax spp., Lonicera japonica and Mitchella repens (Troup and McDaniel 1980).

Appropriate habitat for S. oreophila has apparently been naturally maintained through a combination of harsh environmental conditions which discourage competing plants, and periodic disturbance events. Fire is likely important in maintaining open woodland habitats (Troup and McDaniel 1980), while violent winter flooding may impede succession and eliminate competing species along mountain streambanks (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985). The natural hydrology of spring head bogs may have prevented woody succession in this habitat, or as suggested by Troup (1982), these open grassy areas may be secondary habitat for S. oreophila, dependent on human disturbance for maintaining their open condition. Because the region where S. oreophila occurs has been greatly modified by agricultural and timbering operations, it is difficult to determine the precise natural conditions which supported S. oreophila populations prior to European settlement.

REPRODUCTION: Sarracenia oreophila reproduces both sexually and asexually, though in some situations, reproduction may be limited to asexual means, resulting in large spreading clones (Troup and McDaniel 1980). Humphrey (1987) estimates that green pitcher plants do not become sexually mature until they are 6-7 years old.

The flowers of the green pitcher plant mature in late April at lower elevations, and mature in May at higher elevations (Troup 1982). Cross pollination is needed for seed to set (Troup and McDaniel 1980). Insects associated with S. oreophila flowers which may act as pollinators include flies (Sarcophaga spp.), honeybees (Apis spp.) and bumblebees (Bombus spp.) (Troup and McDaniel 1980). Fruits mature in early autumn, but seed may not be released right away (Troup and McDaniel 1980). Seeds are apparently water dispersed (Troup and McDaniel 1980).

INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER SPECIES: Carnivory is the most striking interaction between members of the genus Sarracenia and other species, though the precise benefit to pitcher plants from this highly specialized adaption is not understood. Christensen (1976) found that when insects were fed to Sarracenia flava, there was no consequent increase in Ca, Mg, or K in the plants' leaf tissue. However, nitrogen and phosphorus did increase, indicating that carnivory may be useful in soils low in these elements. Folkerts (1982) suggests that carnivory may be used to obtain micronutrients, such as molybdenum, which are present at very low levels in a low pH environment. Folkerts (1982) also proposes that carnivory may be important at times of nutrient stress since nutrient levels in bogs decrease over the course of the growing season. Another possibility is that the breakdown of prey detritus from decaying pitchers may help fertilize the soil around the plants (Christensen 1976).

In addition to carnivory, pitcher plants have intricate relationships with several different animal taxa. Members of the genus Sarracenia are the exclusive food of at least five species of moth (Damman and French 1987), and other insects are known to live inside pitchers (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985). Troup and McDaniel (1980) describe a wasp (Olethruetes) and a moth (Exyra) as pests which are known to infest S. oreophila.