Sarracenia minor

Walt.

Hooded Pitcherplant

G4Apparently Secure Found in 5 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142149
Element CodePDSAR02040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
CITESAppendix II
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderNepenthales
FamilySarraceniaceae
GenusSarracenia
Other Common Names
hooded pitcherplant (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date1995-06-27
Change Date1995-07-25
Edition Date2004-03-03
Edition AuthorsK. Lutz (TNC-GA), rev. A. Wildman (12/94) and Jennifer Snyder (6/95)
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Confined to southeastern United States coastal plain, but fairly common in Georgia.
Range Extent Comments
This species is found from central Florida northward to southeastern North Carolina and west to Gulf County, Florida, extending inland to the fall-line from North Carolina to northeastern Georgia (McDaniel 1971).
Occurrences Comments
Considered fairly common in Georgia.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Sarracenia minor differs from all other pitcher plants in that it has areas of whitish tissue (translucent spots) toward the summit of the leaf, somewhat below and opposite the orifice, not enclosed within a conspicuous network of reddish venation; also, the hood archs strongly and closely over the orifice; it has yellow petals.

Habitat

This species is found in a variety of wetland habitats, typically in bogs, savannas, and flatwoods. Most bogs supporting this species are open, with sparsely scattered woody plants. The hooded pitcher plant is typically associated with sphagnum moss, sundews, butterworts, and bladderworts. Bog soils are typically acidic and nitrogen-poor.

Ecology

The hooded pitcher-plant belongs to a unique group of insectivorous plants that supplement their nitrogen requirements by "feeding" on insects. Nectar-secreting glands extend downward from the lip of the pitcher along the outside of tubular leaves. Insects are attracted to nectar, and thus begin to feed on the plant. Unwittingly they work their way into the mouth of the pitcher. Once inside, dense downward-pointing hairs prevent the insect's escape. Inside the pitcher the insect's body decomposes releasing nitrogen that is absorbed by plant. (Shetler and Montgomery 1965).
Terrestrial Habitats
Savanna
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDBog/fen
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaSNRYes
South CarolinaSNRYes
GeorgiaS4Yes
FloridaSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived, SPRING-FLOWERING
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (5)
Florida (2)
AreaForestAcres
Gum BayApalachicola National Forest11,645
Impassable BayOsceola National Forest2,789
North Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pond Pine BCroatan National Forest2,961
South Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Hellhole ExtFrancis Marion National Forest891
Wambaw ExtFrancis Marion National Forest527
References (8)
  1. Fish, D. 1976. Insect-plant relationships of the insectivorous pitcher plant Sarrecenia minor. Fla. Entomol. 59: 199-203.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2009. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 8. Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 585 pp.
  3. Folkerts, G.W. 1982. The Gulf Coast pitcher plant bogs. American Scientist 70: 260-267.
  4. Godfrey, R.K., and J.W. Wooten. 1981. Aquatic and wetland plants of southeastern United States: Dicotyledons. Univ. Georgia Press, Athens. 933 pp.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. McDaniel, S. 1971. The genus Sarracenia (Sarraceniaceae). Bull. Tall Timbers Research Station No. 9. 36 pp.
  7. Rymal, D. E., and G. W. Folkerts. 1982. Insects associated with pitcher plants (<i>Sarrecenia</i>: Sarreceniaceae), and their relationship to pitcher plant conservation: A review. Journal of the Alabama Academy of Science 53(4): 131-151.
  8. Shetler, S. G., and F. Montgomery. 1965. Insectivorous plants. Smithsonian Institution.