Where Does the Pitcher Plant Live in the World?

Description

• Pitcher plants are called such because of their tall water pitcher shaped leaves. The bottom of each "pitcher" contains a small amount of fluid.

Families

• There are three families of pitcher plants: the American, Old World and Australian. While all types of pitcher plants may be purchased in nurseries. In the wild, different families of pitchers are specific to certain world areas.

American Pitchers

• The American family is composed of the genus Sarraceniaceae. American pitchers include the sarracenia of eastern North America, darlingtonia of California, heliamphora of South America and the common pitcher plant, purpurea. The common pitcher can be found growing in bogs from Florida to Iowa.

Old World Pitchers

• The old world pitchers are found mainly in China and Borneo. The old world pitcher (Nepenthaceae) has also been introduced in to Australia. Old world pitchers are often cultivated in nurseries because of their large showy leaves.

Australian Pitcher

• The native Australian pitchers are all of the Cephalotus follicularis type. These plants have small brightly colored pitchers and are unique because of their pitchers having lids and teeth.

Fun Fact

• The fluid in the bottom of the pitcher is a mixture of rainwater and an enzyme containing plant nectars. When an insect crawls into the pitcher to collect the nectar it become trapped and drowns. Next, enzymes and bacteria in the fluid break down the insect to be absorbed by the plant.